Government cannot deal with swine flu without our help

Njoki Karuoya

I am a very worried mother. The scare first struck last Saturday night when I heard the dreaded swine flu, or H1N1 virus if you prefer to call it by its scientific name, had made its grand entry into Kenya. I was at Hotel Intercontinental enjoying drinks and salsa music with a friend.

I felt panic clutch my heart. In my mind’s eye, I saw the virus literally snowballing into a major crisis. All the mwenjoyo of the previous hours dissipated as I tried to figure out how I would convince my bosses to excuse me from work for a few months (on humanitarian grounds) while the relevant authorities sorted out what I knew for a fact would turn out into a mess. For obvious reasons, I didn’t sleep well that night.

Sigh of relief

Fortunately, that initial scare turned out to be hoax. Like the tens of people who had received the warning text, I breathed a heavy sigh of relief. My family, relatives and friends were going to be safe for a little longer.

Sadly for all of us, that did not take very long. In less than 48 hours, a real case of swine flu was diagnosed and confirmed. Panic.

I guess the reason why many people are worried is the lack of confidence they feel in the Government’s ability to contain such a major health crisis and prevent hundreds of Kenyans from dying. If it has been unable to effectively deal with cholera, what about the swine flu?

Already, individuals from more affluent countries have died from this strange strain of influenza and so it is not that surprising that Kenyans are worried.

As a mother, I am particularly worried because I know how the common cold is spread in my house. One person gets it and it moves like wildfire infecting everyone within range.

Each one deals with it based on their physical strengths. Some don’t need to see a doctor but the children often must and, in some instances, have to be rushed to hospitals to cool down the fevers and body aches. Unlike adults, children rarely remember to wash their hands after a meal, a visit to the loo or after playing, so it will be almost impossible to expect them to wash their hands after sneezing and/or coughing as is expected in order to prevent the spread of the flu.

Add the fact that many people today suffer severe water shortages.

Do our part

Furthermore, majority of Kenyans are so poor the thought of buying alcohol-based hand cleaners as a deterrent to infection is a pipe dream. So someone reading the list of ‘dos’ as precautionary measures would imagine they have been designed to protect the wealthy.

That said, it is still the responsibility of every Kenyan to play their part in protecting themselves from the swine flu and, where they have been infected, take the necessary measures to reduce chances of fatality, yaani, death.

Although he is quarantined now, the young British student must have come into contact with a number of Kenyans from the moment he arrived into the country and travelled to where he is now. He and his friends came here on a noble mission but right now, they must be very scared wondering if they will survive this. I’m confident the Government is doing what it can to reassure them and the rest of Kenyans.

In the meantime, let us all do what the Government, through its ministry of public health, says we must in order to reduce the chances of infection. Where we can, let us wash our hands, cover our noses and mouths when sneezing or coughing, see the doctor as soon as we feel sickish with flu-like symptoms, and avoid close contact with people whose symptoms are too obvious, including friends — but be nice about it.

Most importantly, do not panic. That just makes things worse.