Labour have been in power for close to a decade. But being in power and governing are two different things. Joseph Muscat was elected in the perfect storm for the Nationalist Party. The economy was doing exceptionally well, and the growth was going to continue. The Opposition was unlikely to regain popularity very quickly, no matter how good the ideas that were put forward.
The sense we get from Labour’s decade stint in power is that there was a lot of noise about how well the economy was doing. But in silence, poverty was apparently rising. We’re now living in a time when nobody can promise that the economy will actually be doing better. This worries me.
We are not seeing any serious planning from the Labour Government about tackling poverty. What Robert Abela is promising is “stability” as we move forward. If that means that Labour’s policies will remain the same as they are now, then stability is the opposite of what we will get in the next 5 years.
We need change, and we need it fast.
Labour’s policies of laissez-faire economics and letting lower-income people just find a job will not cut any ice in the coming years. Rather than tackle the problem head on, Labour politicians deny that people are getting poorer.
The reality on the ground is the complete opposite.
There is one counter-intuitive way we know this. Last week, a report was published by the World Obesity Federation. It predicted that by the end of the decade, one in three people in Malta will be obese. This is no joke. It’s one thing putting on some pounds after Christmas and playing around the boundaries of what is considered normal weight.
But obesity is a complex disease. When we get a scientific report warning that Malta will see the highest obesity rate in Europe, it is time to worry. This level of obesity becomes a public health risk that deserves attention. At this level, it becomes an issue that needs to be addressed by government.
Obesity is about more than being overweight. Contrary to what some may think, it is not caused simply by eating more than one should. The Superintendent of Public Health Professor Charmaine Gauci weighed in on its causes, saying that they “include lifestyle factors such as nutrition and physical activity patterns, cultural and environmental factors, social, economic and infrastructural factors.”
Something we do know about obesity is that it is linked with lower income. This sounds strange. In low income countries, the opposite is true. But in a relatively wealthy country like Malta, one expects to see obesity increase as income goes down.
As obesity is on the rise, the causes identified by Professor Gauci need particular attention. A snapshot of Malta under the categories of socio-economics, infrastructure and environment deliver a damning verdict.
There are reasons why those with a higher income tend not to suffer from obesity. They have more time and money to spend on a healthier lifestyle. They have access to better facilities and more open spaces more frequently, enjoy a better diet, and generally better access to information and education.
These should absolutely not be privileges for the rich. They should be basic requirements that should be available to absolutely everyone across all spheres of society. We need to fix the system if we are to address the health crisis that will kill more Maltese people than the coronavirus.
The cost of treating obesity once it happens is much higher than working on its prevention. Rather than being reactive as the Labour government is, we need a PN government to be responsive to the problems that society faces at every level.
The obesity report, as well as economic strife on the horizon, should raise alarm bells that many people are being left behind. As cost of living increases, disposable income goes down. People are going to work longer to earn less.
What is Labour doing? Not much. Professor Gauci offered “intersectoral responsibility and collaborative action” as ways forward. In practice, it’s anyone’s guess as to what these mean.
The truth is that the lifestyle in Malta’s society in 2022 is unhealthy. It is pointless having money if we are not spending it wisely. And this Government has not. Government policy is pushing obesity in the wrong direction and imposing a more stressful, unhealthy way of life on our children and workers. There are ways out, and we need to start having this discussion.
Iceland, a small country with a formerly shaky economy and an obesity problem that made huge strides. The first thing they did was address inequality. Decision-makers had everyone at heart, including the bottom of the income scale. Then, they radically changed the way education and sports were delivered in the curriculum.
This is key. In the long run, having extra o-levels returns very limited rewards, if any. But childhood obesity will impact children for the rest of their lives. The truth is we need the collaborative action that Professor Gauci recommends. Civil society and local organisations should be empowered to help. But it starts with a responsible government that cares about the health of its citizens.
That is exactly what the PN is offering. It is up to us to make the change.
miegħ[email protected]
PN general election candidate on the first district