Doctors on common health problems in Russia
Andrey Sharafetdinov, departmental head at the teaching hospital RnD institute of Nutrition, PhD (medicine)
When we are talking about our population… people should have an opportunity to choose food products in shops, products of healthy nutrition. The population should have an opportunity and resources, which a person could use for choosing these products.
Yelena Khanga, journalist
We can many times repeat to our children that smoking is bad and show them scary pictures. You won’t convince them that it is bad, if it is fashionable, cool, if they see it in movies. Therefore, a child needs motivation. If he or she is motivated towards a healthy lifestyle, our children would listen to us. What do I mean? Today we have a disastrous situation in the sphere of physical culture among children. I won’t mention how much it costs. A child who goes in for sports, athletics, tennis, knows how much energy was spent, how much money was spent by their parents. If a child is in competitions, he or she would never start drinking or smoking, not because it is bad, they do not care if it is bad, but because a child appreciates his or her labor.
Nana Pogosova, cardiologist, PhD (medicine)
We have many problems, it’s true. Our statistics prove these problems are objective. Unfortunately, the statistics are very sad. It’s no secret that we have the highest death rate from non-infectious diseases, including CVE. I would like to say it is important that today a major businessman, who lives in Finland, is here. Finland is close to Russia in its cultural features. 30 years ago our statistics and Finland’s statistics showed almost similar results. Then, a unique program began in Finland. There are several champions countries in the reduction of mortality – the USA, Finland, New Zealand, the UK and Australia. These countries made a miracle. They reduced CVE mortality by 70% in 20 years. Think about it. What does this mean? I’m sure if Finland could do it, Russia can do it too. If only we follow this way and don’t re-invent the bicycle. The experience exists. If we implement the positive experience, considering our peculiarities, climate, culture and so on, we will achieve the target. Of course, there are many problems. What you say is right, it is impossible to make a horse drink water, but it is possible to promote motivation. We should establish such an atmosphere and social environment in the country where it would be prestigious to be healthy. In 2001 the Federal Law on Restriction of Tobacco Consumption was adopted. In 2006 the national project Health began. The third line in this document speaks about reviving the preventative policy of our healthcare system. In 2008 the framework convention on restriction of smoking was signed by Russia. It is a very important law. In 2009 the federal program on reduction of alcohol abuse was adopted. In 2010 another law on restriction of tobacco consumption was developed.
