Rakesh Manchanda for BeyondHeadlines
Swine Flu has less to do with eating meat or pigs but it has more to do with poor and corrupt Global Health Governance, weak regulations, rich-poor gap, unhygienic life style and unequal health expenditure. Thanks to the New Delhi AAP government there is a check & freeze on the Swine Flu lab test charges with maximum limit of Rs.4500.Many reports indicate doctors overcharging. In Max Hopital Dehradun the cost of each mask has gone up from Rs.5 to Rs.50. Black market and shortage of Tina Flu tabs continues outside Delhi.
After Mrs. & Mr. Obama-the Uranium and weapon Salesmen went back to America; the Swine Flu tide is on party in India. Hospitals are overcrowded and ICU are fully packed with 7 days isolation. There is a strange change in buzz. People are sad. You see no hand-shake, a hug and a passionate pat in lobbies. Schools are either closed or are banning collective gathers of prayers, sports events and outings etc. Uttrakhand government is giving funds to schools for regular hand wash habits in daily work after the death of a student in Dehradun.
America continues to spend as much as 9000 dollars per person per year wherein India expenditure on health is 3% of its GNP.
Thanks to the Modi Model there is a cut off 20% health budget. India today in Modi era is no more a proud low cost Pharma exporting nation of life saving medicines. Modi Model continues to sell false pride and equality dream of a superpower.
Obama take away from India was the unequal Nuclear `Sale` deal as, I had been discussing in my recent write ups. Obama left Indians with lessons on Religion, equality and make in India greetings called Namaste.
PM Modi wearing his famous London suit with pinstrips reading as Narender Damodar Das Modi reciprocated with a handshake instead of Namashkar.
Imagine a `No Handshake` hospital in modern times due to H1N1 fear? Let us analyse understand the pattern of a more dangerous virus called Ebola with similar primary symtoms.
Ebola going global still with no cure is forcing today almost all 54 African nations to adopt a `No Handshake` Culture. See the Governors of West African countries recently with Namashkar with no risk of a handshake.
October-2014-President Kiir and Museveni adopting Namaste Greetings
Indian greeting of `Namaskar` with folded hands or Chinese bow is more safe in Swine Flu and even Ebola situation outside India.
What goes wrong when you shake hands with a Swine Flu suspect?
There is a grave possibility of transmission. An adult human body carries 70% fluids and hand sweat , cold and cough droplet circulation ensures a faster transfer of virus. Even using the same door handle by the victim can transmit the virus to new suspects. The official death toll today is 833 and is still counting in India.
H1N1 is the ultimate Indian test of cultural hygienic practices. Containing it is a matter of washing hands, covering cough, cold and using hygienic toilets, disposing used tissues and no spitting in public and so on.
If we do not have an effective garbage recycle plan as in India or in Africa, no sanitation system and no water purification plants in order and if we leave pigs and animal bodies out in the open for vultures to eat, then H1 N1 and Ebola like Virus will enjoy in full swing.
Doctors are helpless with seven day isolation screening with no clear protocols. Hospital management are happy as the unhealthy season is delivering rush and rich collection. At time the primary symptoms of H1N1 and Pneumonia overlap and lab test reports take time.
Rich go to hospitals and come back after few days of getting monitored. Poor dare not go to hospital and volunteer for Swine Flu test as they are convinced it is curable. Careless attitude and negligence forces the victim to find that he is breathless and his lungs are damaged.
Funds for collective cure, awareness in time to stop the chain of transmission can help outsmart this deadly virus once it slows down possibly near Holi with change in weather.
Let us keep calm, promote Namaste and boost our immune system for future with better and safer desi habits to overcome this manmade tragedy.
(Author has Worked in African countries since 2006 and had been supporting International Red Cross, supporting awareness & education on Ebola Virus and worked with few NGOs as volunteer on Basic and Advance Life Support.)
