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by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.
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Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

A Great Idea For Wellness Promoters Lifted From Mozambique

Sunday November 9, 2008

"America's health care system is second only to Japan...Canada, Sweden, Great Britain...well, all of Europe. But you can thank your lucky stars we don't live in Paraguay!"Â Homer Simpson

Have you ever heard a song of wellness?Â One that inspires, uplifts and otherwise drives you into a frenzy of studied determination to go exercise, create a supportive environment and otherwise embark on sustainable positive habits to boost your quality of life? No? Well, maybe it's time you did. Unfortunately, I'm not sure there is such a song, but maybe we could ask songwriters to take on this assignment.Â A song designed to drive desired behaviors and good practices worked out very well for an entire country, so why not for wellness promoters and seekers?Â I refer to the nation of Mozambique!

Well, Mozambique's inspirational song was not designed for wellness purposes but it was created to produce desirable behaviors that would make a big impact on the health of the people. In this impoverished South African country with horrific sanitary conditions and practices, a song was created to make things better and lead to improved sanitation and health status. And, the song did the trick—the campaign worked. (See Barry Bearak, "In Mozambique, Singing a Song of Sanitation and Hoping to Change Habits," New York Times, October 25, 2008.)

Therefore, the basic idea seems sound.Â Musician types—get to work! The nation needs a tune for REAL wellness.

The hit motivational sanitation song in Mozambique was designed to promote better health practices related to outhouse behaviors, particularly washing hands after "going to the bathroom." I suppose we could benefit from that song, too, judging from urgent pleadings posted in all restaurants reminding workers about this matter.Â Other parts of the Mozambique sanitation song exhort people to boil water to prevent diarrheal diseases, seek out clean water and avoid untreated waste.

Most songs in this country deal with relationships (e.g., broken hearts, true love) but other wellness skill areas have had popular songs that were influential in motivating great efforts of a wellness-friendly nature. My favorites include John Lennon's Imagine, great for pondering meaning and purpose, Always Look On The Bright Side of Life by the Monty Python Flying Circus and Centerfield by John C. Fogerty (especially when sung by Creedence Clearwater Revival) and Rocky for inspiring exercise heroics.Â But, I can't think of one for overall wellness, especially for REAL wellness focused on quality of life enhancement.

What about you? Anything come to mind? If not, maybe you ought to try your hand at song writing.Â

Be well.Â Always look on the bright side of life.

Domain: physical
Subdomain: adaptations and challenges

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