Izifo Ezithathelwanayo—Ziyinhlekelele Kodwa Zingavinjelwa
NAKUBA ukuzamazama komhlaba okubhubhisayo nezikhukhula eziyinhlekelele kuba eziphambili ezindabeni, ukusakazeka buthule kwezifo ezithathelwanayo akuvamile ukuba indab’ egudwini. Noma kunjalo, “abantu ababulawa izifo ezithathelwanayo (njengengculaza, umalaleveva, izifo zemigudu yokuphefumula nesifo sohudo) baphindwe izikhathi ezingu-160 kunenani lababulawa izinhlekelele zemvelo nyakenye,” kusho umbiko wezindaba we-Red Cross/Red Crescent wango-June 2000. “Futhi lesi simo siya siba sibi kakhulu.”
Zimbili izici eziyinhloko okuthiwa zibangela leli nani elishaqisayo. Esinye isici ukubhebhetheka kwengculaza, ebulala abantu abangu-300 njalo ngehora. Ingculaza “ayisesona isifo, isiyinhlekelele,” kusho uPeter Walker, umqondisi wesimiso sezinhlekelele kuyi-International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. “Isifo esisakazeke kangaka sibulala izisebenzi futhi siwohloze umnotho.” Esinye isici ukuwohloka kwezimiso zokunakekela impilo yomphakathi, okubangela ukubuya ngezinkani kwezifo ezindala njengesifo sofuba, ugcunsula nomalaleveva. Ngokwesibonelo, kwelinye izwe lase-Asia manje kunabantu abangu-40 000 abangenwa isifo sofuba minyaka yonke. Kwelinye izwe laseMpumalanga Yurophu, inani labanogcunsula liye laphindeka izikhathi ezingu-40 eshumini leminyaka elidlule.
Kodwa indida iwukuthi nakuba izifo ezithathelwanayo seziye zaphenduka inhlekelele, empeleni ziphakathi kwezinhlekelele ezingase zivinjelwe. Eqinisweni, lo mbiko uthi inani elikhulu labantu abayizigidi ezingu-13 ababulawa izifo ezithathelwanayo ngo-1999 “lalingase livinjelwe ngemali engama-dollar amahlanu [R40] umuntu ngamunye.” Ukube ohulumeni emhlabeni wonke bebezimisele ukuchitha u-R40 ekunakekeleni impilo yomuntu ngamunye—ingqikithi yamaRandi ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-230—cabanga ukuthi bangaki abantu abafa ngokungadingekile abebengasindiswa!
Nakuba le kuyimali enkulu, ayilutho uma iqhathaniswa nalokho umhlaba okuchitha kwezinye izinkonzo. Ngokwesibonelo, onyakeni wamuva nje, imali eyachithwa umhlaba wonke kwezempi yafinyelela emaRandini ayizigidi zezigidi ezingu-7—okuyisilinganiso samaRandi angu-1 120 umuntu ngamunye. Cabanga ukuthi ingakanani imali echithwa ekulungiseleleni impi kunaleyo echithwa ekuvimbeleni ukusakazeka kwezifo! Mhlawumbe ukuvimbela ukusakazeka kwezifo ezithathelwanayo kumane nje kungaphezu kwamandla esintu—hhayi ngenxa yokuntuleka kwezimali, kodwa ngenxa yezizathu ezijulile. Ingani ohulumeni babantu abakwazi ngisho nokuhlela izinto okufanele zize kuqala.
[Imithombo Yesithombe ekhasini 31]
X ray: New Jersey Medical School—National Tuberculosis Center
Photo of man coughing: WHO/Thierry Falise