If Health Was Treated Like Gold

Health is Wealth

If health was gold, would we be richer or poorer as a people?

This question haunted me during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, and even now when people struggle with several ailments around the world.

The world is so obsessed with wealth, fame, and success and we often overlook the one currency that truly matters: health

So, I went searching for answers. From campuses to streets and hospitals. I asked people, “Personally, what does health mean to you?”

Health in Human Terms: A Global Street Survey

A young man named Michael Akpan in Benin, Nigeria told me, “I have never for once put a personal definition to the word health but based on what I saw when I took my mom to the hospital, I developed something.

Health to me is one aspect I don’t take seriously until it hits a high level that requires extra care, before I start to find a solution. Though this behaviour of mind wasn’t from birth but something my environment gave me.

An environment where one does not have access to health care facilities. The pharmacy around one time sold expired medication to a close friend, since then I developed a stereotype towards them. Though because I don’t really pay good attention to health doesn’t mean I jeopardize it by taking something that will destroy my system .

In general I will say I see Health as a phone battery, once it properly charges, you use it without caution but once you have used it up to 10% you begin to look for where to charge it. The reason you didn’t use it with caution when it was still hundred% was probably because you feel you will always see a place to power it.”

Speaking with Godsent Ogbebor in Abuja, Nigeria, he said, “Well to me, health, in its truest and most comprehensive sense, is the state of all-round body wholeness. It is a condition where every part of the human system physical, mental, emotional, and even social functions in harmony, with balance, energy, and purpose. It is not merely the absence of disease or physical infirmity, but rather the presence of vitality, functional stability, and resilience across all the systems of the body”.

“To describe health as “all-round body wholeness” is that I recognize that the body is not just a collection of independent organs, tissues, and systems, but an interconnected, interdependent unit. Each system; the circulatory, respiratory, digestive, nervous and immune, must operate soundly and actively, complementing one another to ensure the body performs its functions efficiently”.

He further noted that when one system is out of balance, the others are affected, demonstrating how vital synergy is to overall health. It is the foundation upon which productivity, happiness, and human potential are built. Investing in health is, ultimately, investing in life.

Chinaza Oruigbo, a pharmacist stated that “Health means being in a state of total wellness in all facets of human life. That is, physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually and financially, as they all work in tandem.”

In an interview with Mrs Ogono, a lecturer of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Benin, she said, “Health is Wealth. It is when I am in a good state of being fit, medically fit, physically fit, emotionally fit and spiritually fit. Fitness in all ramifications is health. When you are fit in all ramifications, there is no deficiency. That is health, good state of health.”

So, what does health mean to you? Is it peace? Is it freedom? Is it survival?

Whatever your answer, let it guide your choices. Invest in your well-being. Cherish your immunity and respect the battles others fight in silence.

The Pandemic Shift: Elbows, Masks, and Fear

During COVID-19 pandemic, the world changed in ways we never thought possible. A simple cough, a sneeze, or a handshake became a threat. Smiles were hidden behind masks, and “Stay safe” became the new greeting. We no longer embraced with warm hugs, but with elbow bumps.

Hand sanitizers became as common as mobile phones. Health became a constant worry, it was no longer something we took for granted, it became personal. It was urgent. We thought about it more than we ever had before, realising just how fragile life can be.

In Nigeria, we were not only battling COVID-19. Lassa fever added to our burden. Hospitals were overwhelmed, doctors and nurses were stretched thin, fighting two invisible enemies. The fear of illness and death made us take every possible precaution.

Many lost their loved ones, over 7 million lives were claimed globally by COVID-19, while over 3,000 died in Nigeria alone and Lassa fever continued to haunt parts of West Africa, claiming lives every year.

Behind every death, there is a name. A family. A future stolen too soon. Each number isn’t just a statistic, it is a person. It’s someone’s mother, father, sister, brother and friend.

Now, as we scroll, swipe, and shop as if those dark days never happened, we must remember that health is more than just a medical issue, it is a human right. It is a shared responsibility. It is something we must practice daily, not just in times of crisis.

The world paused. Not for a celebrity, not for an election, but for health and that should remind us of what truly matters. The pandemic taught us that, sometimes, life has to slow down for us to understand the value of our health.

What If Health Was Valued Like Gold?

Have you ever asked yourself this question? What if the world values health as much as we value money or gold. That would be really great but in our world, many people only think about their health when they are already unwell.

We save money for holidays, but not for healthy food or vitamins. We rush to meet deadlines, but we do not make time for proper rest. We praise billionaires, but we rarely celebrate those who survive major health problems.

Let’s take a moment to honour those survivors.

Dr Ada Igonoh is one of the few Nigerians who survived the Ebola virus. She risked her life to treat others and lived to tell her story. She is a proof that surviving a health crisis is more than just luck, it is a show of strength and courage.

Selena Gomez, a well-known singer, had a kidney transplant because of a disease called lupus. She now uses her voice to help others understand the condition.

Lance Armstrong survived testicular cancer and went on to win cycling races. His story shows how powerful the will to survive can be.

These survivors teach us that health is more than just not being sick, it is something we should protect every day.

If we truly valued our health, we would: