Drugs are not really an issue of Sao Tomean life, and smoking fortunately remains uncommon. However, judging form the quantity of imports, it would seem that cigarette consumption is increasing. As with many aspects of Sao Tomean life, the level of nutrition seems to have taken a turn for the worse in recent years. These trends are worse in the southern-most district of Cau . In terms of micro-nutrients there is a worrisome trend of iodine and iron deficiency.
Iodine deficiency is a major preventable cause of mental retardation.
The state of the health of the population is of course inextricably linked to the level of sanitation. Pr ncipe this is less than perfect, in terms both of general sanitation and also availability of drinking water. The links between this and the levels of acute diarrheoral diseases, dysentery and neo-natal typhoid cannot be emphasised enough. The importance of improving these conditions is heightened by the eminant possibility of cholera and dysentery outbreaks. Pr ncipe must be a major focal point for any aspect of development work.