Hepatitis B outbreak in Gujarat 2/2009
It is appalling that such an incident can occur in this day and age.
We can ‘somehow’ understand psychopaths, compulsive killers, terrorists et al without a conscience are involved in mindless killing. They deliver death or even worst, life long suffering.
Where as, physicians, paramedical and pharmaceutical staff accused of using re-used syringes causing an outbreak of Hepatitis B. Very disturbing. These folks are no better than those criminals. Ignorance that we can spread diseases like HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C among those not education can be excused, however intentional wrong doing has to be punished, so severely that a message is sent to everybody in India. The people who have been identified as sick are probably the tip of an iceberg. For every person who is sick, there must be 5-10 others who have not manifested Hepatitis-B or perhaps have been infected with Hepatitis-C or HIV. Given the socio-economic conditions of all those affected, considering poor medical care and follow up, it is a life long illness and imminent death.
It is easy for me to write the above, safely sitting behind a computer screen and I know that. I am just helpless, perhaps like many of you.
Perhaps not, maybe we can do something?
Education:
1. To population – make them aware, ask for sterilized/new equipment; make them question the physicians about all interventions. Educate about Hep B, Hep C and HIV and modes of spread.
2. To all the quacks and their associates – reiterate and refresh what they have learnt (if they have been through medical/pharmacy/nursing college)
Mass Media: Television is the best.
Create a fund, produce a short educational video (perhaps 2-3 minutes) with a clear message – broadcast the same on television (local network). Use the above incident as ‘inciting event’. Repeat the broadcast multiple times, mainly to those who live in villages, sub-urban areas. We know how ‘Kannada TV serials’ on mass media are watched by millions in Karnataka and given this incident, hope these TV companies will not charge for advertisement time.
Hopefully we can create a ripple and then a wave, at least in our city/state.
HELP!!
-Som
