'Reduce on your pork consumption or face health crisis'

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Many Ugandans obviously love pork, with an average consumption of 3.4 kg per person per year, according to Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) research.

The per capita consumption makes Uganda the highest consumer in the East African region. This, however, according to experts, is likely to trigger a health crisis.

Dr Andrew Marcel Otim, a specialist in the treatment of chronic infections, says many Ugandans are grappling with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), owing to their overconsumption of pork and other fatty foods, which they categorise as classy.

Otim singled out Rotarians and middle-class Ugandans (corporate) as major perpetrators. He urged them to prioritise healthy living, lest they become victims.

"Along with being the most commonly consumed meat, pork is also one of the most dangerous, carrying some important and under-discussed risks that any consumer should be aware of,” he said.

Otim revealed that the four conditions — obesity, diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol — are connected to poor feeding.

“These tend to occur together; at least three of them or more can occur in the same person. The reason for that is the fact that metabolism is connected,” he said.

For his outstanding contribution in the fight against non-communicable diseases, especially diabetes, Otim received this year’s Rotary Vocation Award from the Rotary Club of Muyenga. The club president, Simon Batte, handed him the award.

Otim, who expressed gratitude for the award, guided Rotarians: “Be careful with the food you eat. Always observe proper nutrition, education and exercise,” he said.

Self-monitor your health

He advised them to take the prescribed drugs and do self-health monitoring. “Check your pressure. If you wake up more than three times to go and pass urine, don't imagine that it is the beer you took; check yourself regularly,” he said.

Otim said many of the diabetics, especially type 2 diabetics, have an association with hypertension, obesity, and high cholesterol.

Kenneth Mugisha, the former governor of Rotary District 9211, who was the chief guest, commended Dr. Otim for his outstanding contribution.

“Dr Otim, who is over 80, has done a lot in the fight against lifestyle diseases that are currently killing many Ugandans. We recognise him for that,” he said.

Coming at a cost

Pork is now viewed as the meat of choice for most Ugandans. Uganda has developed a new cultural phenomenon, the 'pork joint', which extends from hole-in-the-wall kiosks and roadside stalls to high-end restaurants, all based on the sale and consumption of fried and roasted pork.

However, health experts caution that its popularity comes at a cost, as it has been linked with debilitating diseases like hepatitis E, multiple sclerosis, liver cancer, and cirrhosis.