On Friday December 22, 2006, I was given a gift certificate, which said: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! WITH THE COMPLIMENTS OF The Rt. Hon. Perry G. Christie, MP for the Farm Road Constituency and Prime Minister of the Bahamas A CHRISTMAS ‘HAM’ Redeemable on Thursday, 21st December (1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.) and Friday, 22nd December (12noon – 6:00pm) “Festival Site” Market and Wellington Street opposite Lilly of the Valley Corner (Bring this ticket to collect your gift.)” After reading this, I was deeply saddened! Saddened because, just a few weeks ago our Prime Minister, and his Parliamentarian colleagues each stood in The House of Assembly telling the nation, by way of TV and Radio, why they think WE need a “National Health Insurance Scheme (NHI)!” Friends, doesn’t our Prime Minister know that eating ‘HAM’ is one of those meats that are forbidden by the word of GOD. So-much-so that; GOD told HIS children: “…ye shall not eat (swine’s) flesh, nor touch the dead (swine) carcass.” DEUTERONOMY 14:8. Surely friends, if our Prime Minister didn’t know what the Bible said, our Deputy Prime Minister Cynthia Pratt should have. For they say; she is an ordained Minister of the gospel and a preacher of righteousness! What makes this case even sadder is, Dr. Nottage our health Minister, and Dr. Bethel our former health Minister should know why GOD told US not to eat any meat that came from the swine! I wonder how many more of our cabinet Ministers stand guilty of giving “A CHRISTMAS HAM” in their Constituency? What pains me even more; our government leaders would have US to believe that they love US very-much! But do they? By now, those who ate their ‘CHRISTMAS HAM,’ maybe well on the way to being sick for the rest of their lives. Sick with a disease call; Trichinella! So what is Trichinella, you ask? Trichinella is the name of the parasite that causes ‘trichinosis.’ Trichinosis is a type of roundworm infection. Roundworms are parasites that use OUR bodies as a host to stay alive and reproduce. Trichinosis occurs primarily among meat-eating animals (carnivores), especially bears, foxes and walruses. The infection is acquired by eating viable larvae in animal flesh. Pigs that feed on garbage containing uncooked meat acquire trichinosis in the same way. When humans ingest undercooked meat containing trichinella larvae, the larvae mature into adult worms in the intestine over several weeks. The adults then produce larvae that migrate through various tissues, including muscle. People get trichinosis when they eat infected meat such as bear, walrus, horse or pork that is undercooked. Pigs and horses can become infected with trichinosis when they feed on uncooked garbage containing infected meat scraps. But you maybe saying; I’m so happy I don’t eat pig meat! Well friends, other cases have been linked to ‘eating beef’ that was mixed with ‘infected pork’ or ground in a grinder previously used for contaminated pork. Friends; what makes this case so sad is, if you have mild trichinosis, you may have no symptoms or only mild stomach or muscle aches. The sad news is, it is not until the body is infested with ‘hundreds of worms,’ then, more serious symptoms and complications can occur. It is said when the trichinella roundworm enters your body as larvae encased in a cyst. Your stomach's digestive juices dissolve the cyst, releasing the parasite into your body. The larvae then penetrate the intestine, where they mature and mate. At this stage, you may experience: Diarrhea, Abdominal cramps and Malaise! About a week after infection, the adult female worms produce larvae that penetrate the intestinal wall, enter the bloodstream and eventually burrow into muscle or other tissue. This tissue invasion can cause: High fever, Muscle pain and tenderness, Swelling of the eyelids or face, Weakness, Headache, Sensitivity to light and Pink eye (conjunctivitis!)” By now your seat belt should be already fasten, for you are going to need for what you are about to read next! Here it is; there is ‘NO’ satisfactory treatment to eliminate trichinella once larvae invade tissue. At that point, treatment is for symptoms until the larvae eventually die. No wonder my friends we are sickly, and ready to die, for some have, and continue to feast, on HAM’S flesh!!!
Telephone
242-322-6273
Postal address
PAUL MILLER
P.O.BOX N8993
NASSAU, BAHAMAS.