Swine flu puts global solidarity to task
May 04, 2009
WHEN a new epidemic, like swine flu, breaks out somewhere in the world, editors in Africa are faced with a dilemma. When they ignore it, they can be accused of not knowing what is happening in the world, keeping their readers ignorant and vulnerable, and
WHEN a new epidemic, like swine flu, breaks out somewhere in the world, editors in Africa are faced with a dilemma. When they ignore it, they can be accused of not knowing what is happening in the world, keeping their readers ignorant and vulnerable, and not being concerned.
When they make it headlines, they can be blamed for exploiting the topic for commercial reasons, causing unnecessary panic, and being insensitive to much more deadly epidemics that are hitting Africa.
This newspaper chose a middle-way. It kept its readers informed about what was happening in the world and Uganda’s preparedness, without making it headlines.
Even if swine flu proves to be less dangerous than initially feared, it would have been wrong to keep Africans in the dark.
First, because the virus has shown that the world has truly become a global village. The speed with which it travelled the earth, from Mexico over Europe and Israel to New Zealand in just five days, was amazing.
Uganda is not immune to the cross-border movement of people. Tourists from all over the world are entering the country on a daily basis. And Ugandans themselves travel outside: to visit relatives, look for kyeyo or attend conferences.
Second, because the virus, which spreads through coughing or sneezing, has the potential of causing a major disaster in countries like Uganda where people socialise a lot, flu is a relatively unknown and underestimated disease and health services are already over-stretched.
Swine flu has put global solidarity to task. The erratic way various governments reacted, raises questions about coordination and information-sharing.
In particular, the stockpiling by rich countries of Tamiflu, the drug proven effective against the flu strain, risked leaving poor countries with insufficient reserves. If anything, swine flu has awakened the world to the realisation that global preparedness systems are inadequate; and that a multilateral taskforce is needed to fight ever more complicated diseases.
Swine flu might not turn out to be the pandemic killing millions health experts had warned for. But the next virus might be. And it can break out anywhere in the world.
When they make it headlines, they can be blamed for exploiting the topic for commercial reasons, causing unnecessary panic, and being insensitive to much more deadly epidemics that are hitting Africa.
This newspaper chose a middle-way. It kept its readers informed about what was happening in the world and Uganda’s preparedness, without making it headlines.
Even if swine flu proves to be less dangerous than initially feared, it would have been wrong to keep Africans in the dark.
First, because the virus has shown that the world has truly become a global village. The speed with which it travelled the earth, from Mexico over Europe and Israel to New Zealand in just five days, was amazing.
Uganda is not immune to the cross-border movement of people. Tourists from all over the world are entering the country on a daily basis. And Ugandans themselves travel outside: to visit relatives, look for kyeyo or attend conferences.
Second, because the virus, which spreads through coughing or sneezing, has the potential of causing a major disaster in countries like Uganda where people socialise a lot, flu is a relatively unknown and underestimated disease and health services are already over-stretched.
Swine flu has put global solidarity to task. The erratic way various governments reacted, raises questions about coordination and information-sharing.
In particular, the stockpiling by rich countries of Tamiflu, the drug proven effective against the flu strain, risked leaving poor countries with insufficient reserves. If anything, swine flu has awakened the world to the realisation that global preparedness systems are inadequate; and that a multilateral taskforce is needed to fight ever more complicated diseases.
Swine flu might not turn out to be the pandemic killing millions health experts had warned for. But the next virus might be. And it can break out anywhere in the world.