Sri Lanka, Oct. 30 -- I recently read in the Daily Mirror that outpatient department (OPD) visits in our country outnumber the total population by six times. The government now plans to establish both preventive and curative health centres-a positive step toward improving national health.

However, a large amount of our foreign exchange is still spent on importing medicines. This highlights the urgent need to shift our focus from treatment to prevention.

Parents, schools, and the media should play a stronger role in promoting health education. For example, at many public places-funeral houses, restaurants, and even government offices such as the ID office-there are machines that serve coffee or tea loaded with sugar. These are often prov...