Introduction

Abstract

There is no doubt that health is one of the most highly esteemed goods the world over. The fruits of research into the mysteries of the human body and into the social and environmental factors causing diseases have improved the life expectancy of millions of people. Still, morbidity and mortality rates have remained high. This has to be attributed to the rise of chronic diseases, such as cancer and cardiovascular diseases, which have more than outweighed the success in combating infectious diseases attained in this century. Though health research has been successful in raising the chances of survival for those beset by any of these diseases, it has yet to find more effective remedies. Many questions remain unanswered.