Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2004. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
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New Vision - December 22, 2004
Charles Wendo
The same day, a man in Busedde sub-county, Jinja district, set a witchdoctor's shrine ablaze. He wanted sh1,000 for drinking but the witchdoctor would not give it to him. On Boxing Day, two drunken revellers drowned at Nabugabo Beach. During the same week, a 45-year-old woman in Lyantonde was arrested for allegedly boozing up a 14-year-old student and forcing him into having unprotected sex with her.
These incidences do not even make a tip of the iceberg. Thousands suffer silently from problems such as food poisoning, injuries, hangovers, indigestion, loneliness and regrettable sexual encounters.
Violence
Although Christmas is a joyful day, for many people it comes with problems. Dr Fred Kigozi, Director of Butabika Mental Hospital, explains that the problem is not Christmas, but the way some people respond to it. He says most Christmas fights between spouses result from suspicion, infidelity or unmet expectations, aggravated by the influence of alcohol.
"When someone is drunk, the judgement is a little impaired, so they tend to have emotional outbursts," he says. "Somebody might ask, 'why haven't you bought this for me?' The husband can react emotionally and ends up beating the wife."
This mood-changing effect of alcohol does not only cause fighting. Alcohol increases libido while reducing self-control.
The result is that some people end up bedding people they should have avoided. The following morning they wake up regretting. But even without alcohol, libido increases due to the excitement and emotional bond that people develop during festivities. Keep in mind that AIDS kills and HIV spreads through sex.
Stress
While most people become happier on Christmas, a large number suffer from stress. Men face financial pressure. Women strain themselves trying to make the best for everybody. Girls get disappointed when they do not get the type of gifts and attention they expect from their boyfriends.
Kigozi explains that stress arises when the money that someone has cannot afford what he wants to do for Christmas and when a person compares himself with others who have more money. Others worry that they cannot afford to meet their obligations. "Take it easy. Gifts are OK but you don't have to stress yourself," says Kigozi.
Some people take their Christmas disappointments too far to attract attention. They act like they are committing suicide, but do not cause sufficient damage to die. Kigozi says this tendency, called parasuicide, is most common among young women. "They may not really want to die. It is something close to attempted suicide," says Kigozi.
Others drink heavily hoping to relieve stress, but alcohol instead increases stress. Even those who did not originally have stress may get it after drinking.
Injuries
Alcohol causes most accidents on Christmas. It leads to faulty judgement and reduces concentration as well as steadiness.
"People should not drink too much simply because it is Christmas. You need to drink even next year," says Kigozi.
This is not to say alcohol should be banned on Christmas. It has its benefits, but in excess it causes more harm than good.
Food poisoning
Like alcohol, food causes problems if eaten in excess or handled badly. Beware of food poisoning.
Dr Fred Sengoba, Lecturer at the Makerere University Institute of Public Health, cautions that left-over foods pose a risk. Cook just enough for one meal and eat while still warm. If you must keep for the next meal, it must be re-cooked for not less than 15 minutes before eating. "The longer you keep food cold, the more the bad things show up," says Sengoba.
Juices should preferably be prepared fresh. Keeping it in a fridge will only slow down and not stop the multiplication of germs.
Be cautious about salads.
Mayonnaise, which is often used to dress salads, is a fertile ground for bacteria. "I don't eat salads when I go to parties," says Sengoba.
On Christmas, many people eat foods that their stomachs are not familiar with, leading to indigestion or diarrhoea. The same problems result from eating too much.
Injuries are fairly common around Christmas because of fights, robberies and increased household activities.
Diseases like colds and infectious coughs spread more easily on Christmas because people gather together. Moreover, when people worry about Christmas, their immune system is depressed, making them more susceptible to infections.
So, don't court death in the name of Christmas.
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