H1N1 - Part Three

Ok, everyone, I've decided to write about Internet Dating & H1N1 today. During the next week or so I'll write about the rest of the topics in the list. Thanks for participating in my dilemma. Your comments inspired me. It's all coming, don't worry. And Jeff, I'm gathering information about the rebellion. I need to know more before I write. Too many people I know fought in the rebellion. Anyway, my first post for today is about H1N1. Here it goes.. If capital letters offend you, don't read this.

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Unless the situation gets worse, this is going to be my last post on H1N1 this month. You might be asking yourself 'Why all these posts about the flu?'.. Well, my answer is: Because people are DYING. In Salalah. On a regular basis. And guess what? I know a couple of the families who lost loved ones to swine flu during August. The official death toll is 10 so far. That doesn't include the 'unofficial' numbers, whatever they happen to be.

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A seminar/press conference/whatever was held in Salalah a couple of days ago by the Director General of Health in Dhofar, the Undersecretary to the Ministry of Health and God knows who else. I wasn't there, but a friend of mine went and sent me details. Evidently the audience were outraged, the speakers were being dull, and there was tension. The purpose of the seminar was to discuss the latest H1N1 developments in Salalah and to explain to the public the reasons for the deaths, etc. They started off by explaning the symptoms and how to wash your hands with soap and water (zzzzz....) then explained about how to deal with H1N1 on the Hajj this year in Mecca. Yup, three million people crowded into one space. Perfect.

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The funny thing is that the speakers explained that the people who died had left it too late and should have come to the hospital earlier. Hello? We were told NOT to go to the hospital because it was dangerous. Doctors told us to flippin 'stay home'! Anyway, they explained that there is no H1N1 vaccine yet, but that it would be available by the end of the year after being tested.

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The Ministry of Health stated that it was doing its best to control the spread of the flu. Sorry, dudes, but I don't agree. I went to the hospital a couple of times over the past month. The nurses are NOT wearing masks and gloves. Only some of them are. They are touching patients and objects with their hands then they go and touch another patient without washing. People come in with swine-flu like symptoms, the doctors in emergency do the nose and throat swab, take their temperature and blood pressure (that's the standard H1N1 test), then they FREAKING send them HOME and say wait for the results. The results come after six days. During those six days that person could have spread swine flu to a hundred people! The doctors don't even advise them to stay home. And don't tell me they do, because several people I know went, had swine flu, but spent a week spreading it before they got the call from Sultan Qaboos Hospital saying 'Oh, you're H1N1 positive. Better come back'. A WEEK.

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The DG of Health in Dhofar said there are 900 cases on Oman (tell me another one!), and 300 cases in Dhofar (w.h.a.t.e.v.e.r). He stated that half the cases in Dhofar were treated at the hospital and the other half were told to stay home. He said there are 32 patients in induced-comas at the hospital and six in intensive care.

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My friend told me that many people in the audience were school principals. Obviously it makes sense that they should come because schools open up after Eid, and the principals have to deal with the headache of swine flu spreading in schools. I'll keep my fingers crossed for them.

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A journalist from the audience asked the undersecretary why they weren't specifying in the newspaper the towns where people died. The answer was 'because it's no use'. What the HELL do they mean by 'no use'??! Isn't it the people's right to know the places that are most affected? I mean, here in Salalah, we know we're the danger zone of Oman because news of deaths spreads immediately, but shouldn't the rest of the country know? Maybe ... you know ... they'd like to 'AVOID' coming here?! Was the government afraid of stating that Dhofar was worse because they didn't want to lose tourists? Don't tourists have the right to stay alive?

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Ok, here's the funny part. The speakers stated that the lung infection that has been spreading in Dhofar is completely normal and it due to the cold weather (what cold?!). The next day sources from the Diwan (Royal Court) say that lung infections are an advanced stage of H1N1. Go ahead, google it, lung infections ARE an advanced stage of H1N1. People ... are ... dying.

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Oman's hush-hush policy cannot help at this time. People need to know the truth. People need to feel the urgency. People need to know more. People need to protect themselves and their families.

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On a final note, I was told that our dear Mufti, Sheikh Al Khalily (our top religious man in the country) advised citizens to avoid congregating in the mosques during Ramadan to avoid spreading H1N1. Is that true? If it is then kudos to Al Khalily for thinking logically!

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Ok, enough outrage. I'm off to brainstorm my internet dating post. Cheers.

PS: I received this comment immediately from a reader:

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" Salaam Nadia, Thank you so very much for keeping the people informed to the best of your knowledge, someone needs to! I can personally attest to what you are saying. Seven days ago my son woke up one morning with a fever of 40C, I was terrified, he is only 2, and he has never had such a high fever. My initial fear was H1N1 so I had my husband bring him to the Dr. that morning to give us some answers.

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We were told he had the stomach flu and given three medications including an antibiotic. I was so angry when my husband brought him back with the diagnosis of "stomach" flu. We all eat the same thing, no one is suffering. I wasn't convinced. My son's condition was not improving after 24 hours of medicine so I had my husband bring him back. This time we were told to give him a lukewarm bath to bring his fever down etc. My son was back home, high fever and not himself. I kept reading about H1N1 and told my husband finally to demand he be tested for it. We were then referred to the Sultan Qaboos hospital after almost 5 excruciating days, where one day he seemed to be improving, and then the next hour his fever shot up and he retreated to bed. I went to Sultan Qaboos hosp. myself with all three kids and I demanded they do the swab but was turned down because it was "expired". Livid wouldn't even describe my outrage. The hospital was literally PACKED with sick children. The womens side had at least 40-50 women each with a child in their arms.

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We were of handedly prescribed Tamiflu and told to give it to all our children. By Allah's mercy and Dua'a my son is doing better, although he still has a ferocious cough. I am still not satisfied. I am angry that not enough was done in the beginning and that we have been poorly informed. My son could have died. We are all avoiding the masjid and public places. Everyone should do the same. H1N1 affects each person differently, and you would not want to fall victim of the system and not get properly treated. My sons are still not at 100% as I mentioned they still have a cough. They will stay home the rest of Ramadan just in case they really do have H1N1.Also please tell your readers that it is SO true about the Doctors. This was my first experience at the hospital and I was sooo shocked. As the Dr. was giving us a consultation, another Dr. walks in and informs "our" Dr. that Dr. "so-and-so" just died, not sure the reason, but potentially H1N1. WTH??I nearly fainted. My only solace is in Allah the Merciful.Everyone must take precautions, be your own advocate. We must not pretend that everything is okay. Salalah is a place where family stays together all the time, eat, sleep etc the flu can easily spread.My humble advice: STAY HOME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLEplease make dua'a for the countless children who are suffering.your sister - YF"

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Thank you YF for your comment. People need to hear real experiences. I pray that your children get better and do not have H1N1, and I pray that no more people die. Ameen.