Isifo Sephepha Siyahlasela Kwakhona!

UKUSUSELA kwiminyaka yee-1950, inani labantu abanesifo sephepha liye lehla eUnited States ngomlinganiselo wesi-5 ekhulwini ngonyaka. Noko ke, ukususela ngowe-1985, kuye kwanikelwa ingxelo yolwando lwe-18 ekhulwini kwinani labantu abanesifo sephepha. Okuphazamisa nangakumbi kukubakho kohlobo olutsha lwesi sifo olungancedwayo lunyango lwezamayeza. Ngoku isifo sephepha sibulala abantu abaqikelelwa kwizigidi ezithathu nyaka ngamnye. Kutheni umlo nxamnye nesifo sephepha ungaphumeleli?

Esinye isizathu sikukuba abaguli abaninzi bayasilela ukusebenzisa amayeza abawanikwayo kangangethuba elimiselweyo—elidla ngokuba ziinyanga ezintandathu ukuya kwezisithoba. Ngokomzekelo, kwisiXeko saseNew York, olunye uhlolisiso lwatyhila ukuba ama-89 ekhulwini eqela labaguli abangama-200 abanesifo sephepha abazange bawagqibe amayeza abo. UGqr. Lee Reichman, umongameli weAmerican Lung Association uthi: “Oku kuyandoyikisa, ngenxa yokuba abo bantu (a) abayi kunyangeka yaye (b) mhlawumbi basenokuba nesifo sephepha esiza kuwaxhathisa amayeza asetyenziswayo ngokuqhelekileyo.” Kodwa aba banesifo sephepha basenokungachaphazeli nje impilo yabo kuphela. UGqr. Reichman wongezelela athi: “Ngokungawasebenzisi kwabo amayeza, basenokwasulela nabanye abantu.” Ngokungathandabuzekiyo oku kufak’ isandla kubukho babanye abantu abanesifo sephepha abaqikelelwa kwizigidi ezisibhozo abaye bafunyaniswe ehlabathini lonke nyaka ngamnye.

Abafundi beBhayibhile bayaqonda ukuba ‘iindyikitya zokufa kwiindawo ngeendawo’ ziyinxalenye yomqondiso wokuba siphila ‘kwimihla yokugqibela’ yale nkqubo yezinto. (Luka 21:11; 2 Timoti 3:1) Kuya kulandela ntoni? Umhlaba omtsha, apho ‘kungayi kubakho mmi wakhona uthi, Ndiyafa.’ (Isaya 33:24) Ewe, uYehova uThixo uthembisa, kungekhona isiqabu sokwexeshana, kodwa inkululeko epheleleyo ekuguleni nasekufeni.—ISityhilelo 21:1-4.