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The public has been advised to avoid unhealthy behaviour during the Christmas and New Year festivities in order to enter the new year in good health.

A release signed by Mr Kwaku Agyeman-Manu, the Minister of Health, and copied to the Ghana News Agency, advised people to exercise regularly and at the same time stay away from unhealthy junk food, avoid taking in alcohol and avoid smoking.

It said non-communicable diseases such as hypertension, diabetes and cancers, were commonly caused by unhealthy eating.

“We therefore advise that during this festive season, you should feed your family and friends with more traditional foods and not junk food,” the release said.

Our local foods are healthier, compared to junk foods which are full of refined sugars, salt and trans-fatty acids, which can lead to non-communicable diseases, the release said, adding that the eating of more fruits and vegetables was highly recommended “than the fizzy and soft drinks”.

It cautioned against alcohol intake and said whilst alcohol was associated with most of the country’s traditional and social functions, it posed serious health effects, ranging from mental diseases, liver problems, heart diseases and diabetes.
“Do not drink and drive. Save your life and that of others. Avoid the use of alcohol during this Christmas season. Alcohol can kill,” the release cautioned.

It also warned against the smoking of tobacco, especially amongst the youth, saying, “smoking is the highest risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, all forms of cancers, and contributes to pneumonia and other respiratory infections.”

The release said in 2014, 1944 people died from tobacco-related diseases in Ghana, and said people should also stay away from anyone in the act of smoking, because passive smoking was also harmful.

It urged all institutions to ensure that their no smoking areas had the “NO SMOKING’ signs during the holidays and after.

The release said the Ministry of Health had alcohol and smoking cessation centres that could help people to stop smoking or drinking and advised people to contact the Mental Health Authority in case they needed assistance.
It advised people to exercise regularly because this reduced the risk of heart diseases, diabetes, high blood pressure, colon cancer, obesity, and also promoted long life.

The release said as much as possible, people should buy drugs upon the doctor’s prescription, and avoid the abuse of drugs in any way.

It cautioned people to be wary of the dangers of sexually transmitted infections and diseases, including HIV/AIDS and ensure, that they behaved responsibly during the Christmas season.

The release also advised that people wash their hands with soap as often as possible, especially before eating, adding, “ninety five percent of diseases that are transmitted from one person to another can be prevented through regular hand washing”.

It urged the public to always ensure a clean environment, in order to prevent germs and other disease causing organisms.