BY DELISA THWALA
MBABANE – Good doers
The Medical Mission of the Republic of China (Taiwan) reached out to the community of Ntfonjeni, in the Hhohho Region, where they treated people for ailments free of charge, over the weekend.
The mission also gave out free medication to more than people at Ekujabuleni primary School.
On this day, residents of Ntfonjeni were also provided with vegetables, food and received bags of rice.
They thanked the embassy and the mission for their generosity.
One of the community members, after receiving her rice, showered the visitors with accolades and stated that she had no food to eat.
“I am so happy because today, I will have something to eat. We were adversely affected by the drought last year, which robbed us of any harvest from our fields. This rice will go a long way in helping me and my family,” said the community member. .
Outgoing Member of Parliament, Sifiso Magagula also thanked the embassy for the gesture.
“A true and loyal friend is seen during times of need. The Taiwan Medical Mission and embassy have proven beyond doubt that they are our true friends,” he said.
The Embassy Minister Tsuei said their charity targeted rural communities because it was not easy for them to reach health facilities.
Worth mentioning, there was also a nutritional education class, where the community was lectured on the importance of a healthy diet. The lecture was conducted by a Seed Multiplication Officer, Benjamin Mamba, who emphasised the importance of a balanced diet.
According to Mamba, the decrease in life expectancy was a result of the kind of food that the new generation consumed.
“The reason why there is a high death rate in the youth is not only because of their behaviour, but, most dominantly, their eating habits. Young people assume that it is only old people that should eat vegetables. They believe that in their youthful years, they must eat nice things, which is very wrong,” Mamba said.
He also highlighted that fatty foods were not good for the body, due to the fact that they blocked arteries, thus making it difficult for the circulation of blood in the body. This then causes chronic illnesses.
The mission partnered with Eswatini Breast and cervical cancer network, which provided a mobile clinic, where the community was able to be examined for cancer.
The network’s representative, Benitoones stated that the most common cause of cancer was early sexual activities.
“Young people should not be involved in sexual activities at a tender age, as this is one of the high causes of cancer. There is a virus called human papillomavirus. Everyone has this type of virus, so when young girls sleep around at early ages, they risk contracting the virus from different people, and once it dominates their bodies, it causes cervical cancer,´ Benito said.
The representative advised males to go for cancer screening, as he cited that a per cent of the patients that consulted their clinic were females.
