Infecting belief

Perhaps it is habit, or lack of faith, or the constant programming of belief that has made us more prone to trust the bad news rather than the good.

The ongoing scare on the A(H1N1) virus has caught some of us in paralyses. We do not want to travel. To shake hands. To get inside hospitals with reported cases of the said disease. We are afraid to be in crowded places, and in a public utility, when someone sniffles, our tendency is to try to discretely cover our faces lest the germ wafts in the air and takes residence in our pores.

In the reports, it is stated that 84% of the total 445 confirmed cases of the disease are already healed and back to their normal grind. Then of the remaining 16% only one died and not mainly due to the virus but to other complications as well which, based on the list given to us in the papers, shows how poor the health condition of the person was (with my apologies to the family and sincere condolences).

I do not know the complete history of the person, except that she is an officemate of my friend who works in -----, but I can only surmise that since the affliction came in so quickly and as speedily took over and claimed her life, the neglect on her health is apparent.

Many of us Filipinos suffer this consequence. Health is often the last item in our list of priorities. Sanitation is a neglected need. The simple practice of hand washing and proper health habits like covering one’s mouth when one coughs or sneezes is too simple that we often take it for granted and do not comply. These habits are tried and tested and have proven to be life savers.

Among the basic rules in GMP or Good Manufacturing Practices is keeping things clean and orderly. Not just the workplace. It talks about cleanliness and grooming. Care for health and simple maintenance of a healthy and encouraging environment as well as safety habits.

These are again, very basic and still we overlook them. That is why it takes a crisis or a seeming epidemic for us to be conscious and committed to keep clean habits.

If you notice, many of the illnesses now step from violations of basic health rules. SARS was transmitted through lack of sanitation or clean health practices very much like the A(H1N1). Herpes, AIDS and other STDs showed multiple partnering and same sex intimacies increase the risk of its spread. Usually when done in an illicit rendezvous, results to other complications as not only are the partners multiplied but the number of times sheets in some steamy, seedy places are changed or recycled. We forget about our health in the pursuit of a temporary passion.

Meningo Coccemia, Hepatitis that also caused some panic a few years ago is also transmitted in the same way.   These show that keeping good sanitary habits one also shows care. By opting for a clean life, not only is the body cleansed but the spirit as well.

We may not be able to afford much of health care. But sanitary practices are well within reach. Aside from pursuing these things, I suggest we also try looking at the better side of the story. People are healed. Among the greatest infectious diseases actually is the malady of disbelief. Even when things have improved, we still try to cling to the fear. Although it is definitely safe to be cautious, it causes unnecessary stress to always believe we only deserve doom.