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H1N1 and the Epidemic Disaster in Egypt. Will the Government Sacrifice is people as always?
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates between 15 and 45 percent o the world's population will contract the H1N1 virus, commonly known as swine flu. Estimates also suggest that a common scenario would involve one third of the world's population, or 2 billion people, in case of becoming an epidemic.
Such has caused many to panic, especially as flu season approaches.
The virus has spread in over 115 countries at a surprising rate, According to the WHO, about 340,000 have contracted H1N1, with 4100 deaths attributed to the virus, evidence which supports that H1N1 is in fact, a global epidemic. It us up to governments then, to take necessary precautionary measures, as well as comprise an efficient procedure for drug administration and treatment.
The first case of the virus was discovered in Egypt on 3 June; and the official spokesman for the Egyptian ministry of health has sated that such number now stands at 969, 47 of which are currently being treated, and 3 of which have died.
With such rate of infection, the Land Center recognizes and warns the sanitary and environmental conditions in Egypt as being the main contributing factor to the spread of the disease and its transformation into a local epidemic. Greater fear is directed at the possible mutation of the virus into a more aggressive strain, in which case, experts put the estimates at 18 million dead in Egypt; and the world health organization suggests that up to 30-50 percent of the population in any given country may be wiped out by the mutated strain.
In light of the preparations being taken to combat the spread of the virus, The land center urges the ministries of health and environmental affairs, as well as local precincts to exercise as much caution and scrutiny in performing the set procedures. A government entity must also be assigned in place with the appropriate resources to aid both the preservation of public sanitation, as well as work with people on an individual basis to guarantee their personal hygiene.
The Land Center stands by the assertion, that he only method to combat the sudden spread of the disease is the founding and upholding of a civilized healthcare establishment; such would ensure the proper systematization of medical records, as well as organize universal routine checkups. Attention must also be directed at public sanitation and hygiene.
The Land Center would point out that the problems facing Egyptians with the national healthcare system have been decades into question; also pointing out that with an average monthly income of 350 pounds for the predominant class of Egyptians, private healthcare becomes an unaffordable luxury. Free public healthcare has become burdened and inefficient, causing the spread of new diseases to take a huge toll on the ailing system, which is struggling to deal with an increasing amount of heart and cancer patients.
The Land Center also warns of the danger associated with the spread of avian flu, H5N1, and especially in case of an H1N1 epidemic. The government warns of catastrophic consequences following people not willing to report their own illness, due to fear, panic, and lack of faith in the government and healthcare system.
Much blame falls on the government for the sanitary conditions; failure to regulate environmental laws, the lack of equipment and funding, and enforcement.
The people are calling for understating, and are demanding action. And the question remains: in the strange agenda of being otherwise occupied, is the Egyptian government completely oblivious of the problems facing its people?
For more information, please contact the Center.