Education can stop Covid-19 wreaking havoc
A NEW and detailed report by the Global Preparedness Monitoring board (GPMB), warns that the planet is unprepared if a new contagion similar to the 1918 flu pandemic strikes.
In a new global outbreak of emerging deadly viruses, the possibility exists that 80 million people could perish.
New and deadly mutating viruses that can defy antibiotics are evolving as a result of climate change, drought, pollution and environmental degradation.
Outbreaks of new strains of viruses in many parts of the world, are a graphic reminder of how vulnerable mankind is to infectious diseases.
Through the centuries, man’s greatest threat often has not been natural disasters or warfare, but microscopic creatures we share the earth with.
New strains have emerged about every 27 years, in past centuries. The last one was the Hong Kong flu, which took place about 38-40 years ago. The next flu pandemic is statistically overdue. The risk of emerging and new strains of flu viruses is much higher due to the increased global mobility.
A long interval without epidemics brings complacency about new diseases. History records three great pandemic in the past 2 500 years. Each ravaged nearly the all the inhabitated world. The first lasted for 200 years, the second for 400 and the third for more than 100 years.
Laurie Garrett, who won the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for reporting on the Ebola virus, wrote a best seller on new diseases. Her book on the emergence of diseases such as Legionnaire’s disease, Aida, the Muerto Canyon microbe and the Rwandan cholera outbreak, refers to opportunistic infections as ecological paybacks for our modern behaviour, flawed technology and the destruction of rain forests.
We tend to ignore history. We are ill prepared to face the coming biological storm. Throughout history infectious diseases have been the great killer of humanity.
Infectious diseases are increasing throughout the world. Pathogens are becoming immune to current drugs and new drugs are no longer being developed. New pathogens are emerging due to human population growth and environmental degradation.
ALTHOUGH it may sound like pressing the panic buttons over this new virus (Covid-19), South Africa and Africa will be hit hard.
Our porous borders are enough evidence that our government cannot effectively control who comes in and out of South Africa, especially landbased borders.
Alison Millington, in Business Insider US, says South Africa is ranked the unhealthiest country on earth, based on life expectancy, blood pressure, blood glucose diabetes risk, obesity,
MADAM & EVE
Nature throws challenges at human civilisation in the form of infectious diseases, the devastating diseases that periodically emerge remind us how thin is the veneer that separates our high-tech society from personal and community disaster.
Most people assume that medical science will shield us from disasters in previous centuries. We are more vulnerable than we suppose.
Johannesburg depression, unhappiness, alcohol use, tobacco use, too little exercise and not enough government spending on health.
Public transport is the main culprit; overloaded trains and taxis, are the main catalysts in spreading tuberculosis. It will be the poor who will suffer.
Task teams need to be set up with NGOs, taxi associations, churches, schools and universities (UKZN already has). Education on the virus is crucial, to stop it wreaking havoc.
Sandton
IN CONTEMPORARY South Africa, the challenge of crime has become inordinate. As an ordinary law-abiding citizen, I have, in a period of about 15 years, been mugged, had two cars stolen, my house has been burgled and frequently had intruders on my property who have stolen garden furniture and broken into my cars.
I am firmly of the opinion and conviction that the challenge of endemic crime can be addressed in more effective manner than is presently the position. I write this open letter in the hope that the constructive ideas put forward in it will be heard and acted on.
As a former eThekweni councillor, I learnt that what was required to combat crime optimally was inter alia co-operation between the South African Police Serviceand the community at large. Where this occurred using the Community Police Forums (CPFs), which met regularly once a month in my ward, we were able to diminish the incidence of crime. I am of the opinion that a national effort is essential to revive and invigorate these CPFs.
I am also of the opinion that crime has become so serious a problem that the time is opportune for a national conference or summit on the issue of crime, involving all the role players.
Besides the CPFs and neighbourhood watches, which need to be re-invigorated, new ones need to be established and supported by the SAPS and local communities respectively; New avenues of co-operation between SAPS and the community at large need to be explored, involving all the role players; Community respect and support for the members of SAPS;
The issue of corruption and lack of discipline in SAPS needs to be addressed with determination and urgency;
In general, a change is needed from a reactive strategy to one that is proactive.
Although South Africa is a country of infinite potential, the endemic and serious challenge of crime must be addressed immediately.
Emeritus professor at
UKZN
By Stephen Francis & Rico