Swine flu - a wake-up call

MANILA, Philippines – Influenza A (H1N1), originally swine flu is now a pandemic. At the start, health authorities are again reminding everyone, just like SARS in 2003, of the necessary precautions: frequent handwashing and covering one’s mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing in order not to spread the virus or germ that we may have so as not to infect other people. In the opening of classes this year in the elementary and high school, the students are being taught proper handwashing.

However, for our general health to strengthen our body resistance or immune system against any disease, the basic health habits should strictly be followed at all times: regular and enough sleep, regular meals of balanced and good nutrition, regular working hours and physical activity, rest and recreation, living in moderation, sufficient water intake and daily elimination, clean living and living in a clean environment. Also, a good advice is to engage in balanced activities that are free from unnecessary stress coupled with the right attitude in life and a healthy spirituality. All these are toward the strengthening of our resistance and immune system and self-control. In other words, these are the basics of preventive medicine. In short, hygiene which means a system or practice of principles or rules designed to promote and to maintain health and cleanliness. For indeed, “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” May this wise saying be everybody’s motto for the common good.

Sad to say, with the medical progress of high technology, sophisticated laboratory tests and wonder drugs, medical advances in diagnostic and therapeutic means, the preventive aspect of healthcare has been overlooked, if not neglected or ignored. There are many cures available anyway and limited vaccines for certain diseases yet quite expensive. And because preventive and primary health care tends to be taken for granted, there is increased incidence of hospital cases or advanced stage of diseases. These are the ones harder to treat and to recover from at the expense of health and economy. Ignorance or naivety has led further to increasing mortality.

Fortunately, lifestyle change or lifestyle modification has been popularized in Continuing Medical Education (CME) of the medical profession. Worthy of praise and support also is HERO (Health and Education Reform Order), a memorandum of agreement of the Philippine Medical Association and Philippine College of Physicans, signed as EO 595. In connection with this, it is well to recall Dr. Juan Flavier as Health Secretary, saying that “We, physicians, are fighting not only disease but also ignorance.” He further advised physicians through the Chiefs of Clinics to teach their patients and their families how not to get sick again for getting sick is more expensive than to prevent sickness.

Let me end this humble article with the inspiring lines taken from a book, A Treasury of Living Faith

Blessings In Disguise

Blessings come in many guises

That God alone in love devises,

And sickness which we dread so much

Can bring a very healing touch,

For often on the wings of pain

The peace we sought before in vain

Will come to us with sweet surprise

For God is merciful and wise.

And through long hours of tribulation

God gives us time for meditation,

And no sickness can be counted loss

That teaches us to bear our cross. — Helen Steiner Rice