Japan has averagely the highest life expectancy in the world of about 83 yrs.It is quite big compared to Kenya which is currently 64 yrs. Two years it was 55 yrs.Despite this improvement ,we are still very far from achieving the levels of Japan’s life expectancy.The question that arises is,what do Japanese people do to live long than us?So lets take a look at various issues.
1.DIET AND DIETING
The Japanese people are very cautious when it comes to dieting.If they realise certain feeds have health effects,they simply avoid them,minimise consumptions or use alternative feeds.For example,red meat is associated with more cholesterol so they opt to use fishes instead of the red meat.They also take a lot of green vegetables.How many of us Kenyans don’t take that into consideration?Any sight of red meat is enough to catch our attention,we grab and take it without doubts or questions.
Other harmful foods like salts and sugars are less in their diets.We are aware that MUCH salts and sugars can cause heart attacks,strokes and also kidney diseases but we always risk by frequently using just to quench our cravings.Am aware of families that eat Ugali with salt,look at such a diet! Or a couple of us taking sugary sweets and chocolates without considering their health implications.In short Japanese people are as natural as possible,they avoid processed feeds and much as possible.
They also take balanced died unlike most of us Kenyans.
2.JAPAN SPENDS A LOT ON PUBLIC HEALTH THAN KENYA
There are many infectious diseases in kenya than Japan.They range from HIV/AIDS,Malaria,Typhoid etc but goverment investment and input to fight them is low.Japan in contrast spends alot in the sector,infact any sign of a disease anywhere will be news headlines.Vaccination campaigns are rampant and most people undergo yearly health check-up unlike us.We should not only invest alot in public health but also be in the frontline to help in preventing the diseases by being cautious.
3.FAMINE
Most people die as a result of famine and hunger in Kenya than Japan where its news when a person die of famine.This may be due to bad climatic factors like in North Eastern Kenya or maybe poverty.There are more poor people compared to rich people.
4.CLEAN WATER
Most Kenyans don’t have access to clean water compared to Japan.Clean water is essential for life.The government should help citizens access clean water.Rivers get polluted by wastes , dirt or even by industries.Most boreholes in Kenya have water which have not not been tested and declared safe for consumption but we still use them ,we have no otherwise.
5.C0RRUPT KENYAN LEADERS
Instead of using public funds to improve lives of Kenyans,they use the funds to enrich themselves.That is actually the trend among most African leaders if i have to exempt Kenya.As leaders live better lives,normal citizens live pathetic lives.Thats why we witness african leaders living for so long unlike the normal citizens.For example Zimbabwe has life expectancy of 49 while its president is old past Japan average life expectancy and nearly twice Zimbabwe’s life expectancy.Swaziland,Lesotho ,Malawi ,Botswana etc have very low life expectancy all partially because of their leaders.
6.LOW LEVEL OF EDUCATION
Illiteracy level in Kenya is very high compared to Japan where over 95 percent of population is litterate.We need to educate Kenyans so as to reduce poverty thust encouraging well- being of Kenyans.
TheHelpingHand 