Ukumpontshelwa Igazi—Kulondeke Kangakanani?

Ngaphambi kokuba avumele noma iyiphi inqubo yezokwelapha engathi sína, umuntu ocabangayo uyofuna ukwazi ngezinzuzo nangezingozi zayo ezingenzeka. Kuthiwani ngokumpontshelwa igazi? Manje kuyithuluzi eliyinhloko kwezokwelapha. Odokotela abaningi abanesithakazelo esiqotho ezigulini zabo bangase bangakungabazi ukufaka igazi. Liye labizwa ngokuthi isipho sokuphila.

Izigidi ziye zanikela ngegazi noma zalemukela. Ngo-1986-87 iCanada yaba nabanikela ngegazi abayisigidi esingu-1,3 emphakathini wabantu abayizigidi ezingu-25. “[O]nyakeni wamuva kakhulu okutholakala amanani awo, kwasetshenziswa amabhodlela egazi aphakathi kwezigidi ezingu-12 nezingu-14 ekumpontshelweni eUnited States kuphela.”—The New York Times, kaFebruary 18, 1990.

“Igazi belilokhu linemfanelo ‘engokomlingo,’” kuphawula uDkt. Louise J. Keating. “Eminyakeni yalo yokuqala engu-46, igazi lalibhekwa kokubili odokotela nomphakathi njengelilondeke kakhulu kunalokho eqinisweni elaliyikho.” (Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine, kaMay 1989) Sasiyini isimo ngalesosikhathi, futhi siyini manje?

Ngisho naseminyakeni engu-30 edlule, izazi zezifo nezisebenzi zasemabhange egazi belulekwa: “Igazi liyisiqhumane! Lingaba usizo olukhulu kakhulu noma libe ingozi enkulu kakhulu. Ukufa okubangelwa ukumpontshelwa igazi kulingana nalokho okubangelwa isibulali-zinzwa se-ether noma ukuhlinzwa kweappendix. Kuthiwa cishe kunoyedwa ofayo kubantu abampontshelwa igazi abasukela kwabangu-1 000 kuya kwabangu-3 000 noma mhlawumbe abangu-5 000. Endaweni yaseLondon kuye kwabikwa ukuthi kunoyedwa ofayo kulawo nalawo mabhodlela egazi angu-13 000 ampontshelwe.”—New York State Journal of Medicine, kaJanuary 15, 1960.

Ingabe izingozi ziye zaqedwa kusukela ngalesosikhathi kangangokuba ukumpontshelwa manje kulondekile? Ngokungagunci, unyaka ngamunye amakhulu ezinkulungwane ahlushwa ukusabela komzimba kokungezwani negazi, futhi abaningi bayafa. Ngenxa yokukhulumela okwenziwe ngaphambili, engqondweni yakho kungase kufike izifo ezithwalwa igazi. Ngaphambi kokuhlola lesici, cabangela izingozi ezithile ezingaziwa kakhulu.

IGAZI NESIMISO SOMZIMBA WAKHO SOKUZIVIKELA

Ekuqaleni kwekhulu lama-20 leminyaka, ososayensi bajulisa ukuqonda komuntu ukuba yinkimbinkimbi kwegazi okumangalisayo. Bafunda ukuthi kunezinhlobo ezihlukahlukene zegazi. Ukufanelanisa igazi lonikelayo nelesiguli kubaluleke kakhulu ekumpompeleni. Uma othile ogazi lakhe lingelohlobo A ethola igazi lohlobo B, amangqamuzana egazi lakhe angase awohloke ngendlela eyingozi kakhulu. Lokhu kungabulala amangqamuzana akhe abomvu amaningi kakhulu futhi kumbulale ngokushesha. Nakuba ukuhlola uhlobo lwegazi nokulifanelanisa nelomunye manje kuyinqubo eqhutshwayo, amaphutha ayenzeka. Unyaka ngamunye abantu bayafa bebulawa ukuwohloka kwamangqamuzana egazi.

Amaqiniso abonisa ukuthi indaba yokungafanelani idlulela ngalé kwezinhlobo zegazi ezimbalwa ngokuqhathaniswa abasezibhedlela abazama ukuzifanelanisa. Ngani? Nokho, esihlokweni sakhe esithi “Ukumpontshelwa Igazi: Ukusetshenziswa, Ukusetshenziswa Ngokungafanele, Nezingozi,” uDkt. Douglas H. Posey, Jnr., uyabhala: “Cishe eminyakeni engu-30 edlule uSampson wachaza ukumpontshelwa igazi njengenqubo eyingozi uma kuqhathaniswa . . . [Kusukela ngalesosikhathi] kuye kwatholakala ezinye izakhi zamasosha omzimba zamangqamuzana abomvu okungenani ezingu-400 futhi zahlukaniswa. Akukho kungabaza ukuthi inani lazo liyoqhubeka landa ngoba ulwebu lwamangqamuzana abomvu luyinkimbinkimbi kakhulu.”—Journal of the National Medical Association, kaJuly 1989.

Ososayensi manje bahlola umphumela wegazi elimpontshelwe esimisweni somzimba sokuzilwela, noma sokuzivikela. Lokho kungase kusho ukuthini kuwe noma esihlotsheni sakho esidinga ukuhlinzwa?

Lapho odokotela befakela umuntu inhliziyo, isibindi, noma esinye isitho, isimiso sokuzivikela salowo ofakelwa lesositho singase sizwe ukuthi lesositho akusona esalowomzimba bese sisenqaba. Nokho, ukumpontshelwa, kuwukufakelwa esinye isicubu. Ngisho negazi eliye lafanelaniswa “ngokufanele” lingasicindezela isimiso somzimba sokuzivikela. Emhlanganweni wezazi zezifo, kwavezwa iphuzu lokuthi amakhulu ezincwadi zezokwelapha “aye ahlanganisa ukumpontshelwa igazi nokusabela okuhlukahlukene kwesimiso somzimba sokuzivikela.”—“Icala Lokumpontshelwa Liyaqina,” kuyiMedical World News, kaDecember 11, 1989.

Umsebenzi oyinhloko wesimiso somzimba wakho sokuzivikela uwukuthola nokubulala amangqamuzana ayingozi (omdlavuza). Ingabe isimiso somzimba sokuzivikela esicindezelwe singaholela emdlavuzeni nasekufeni? Phawula lemibiko emibili.

Iphephabhuku iCancer (likaFebruary 15, 1987) lanikeza imiphumela yokuhlola okwenziwa eNetherlands: “Ezigulini ezinomdlavuza wethumbu elikhulu, ukumpontshelwa kuye kwabonakala kunomphumela ophawulekayo ongemuhle ekusindeni kwesiguli isikhathi eside. Kuleliqembu selilonke kuye kwaba nesilinganiso esingehli sokuphila iminyaka emihlanu esingu-48% ezigulini ezampontshelwa nesingu-74% kwezingazange zimpontshelwe.” Odokotela eYunivesithi YaseNingizimu California balandelela iziguli eziyikhulu ezahlinzelwa umdlavuza. “Izinga lokubuya futhi kwazo zonke izinhlobo zomdlavuza wamalaka lalingu-14% kulabo abangazange bafakwe igazi futhi lingu-65% kulabo abalifakwa. Ngokuqondene nomdlavuza womlomo, igilo, nekhala noma womgudu wamakhala, izinga lokubuya futhi kwalesifo lalingu-31% kwabangazange bampontshelwe kanti lingu-71% kwabampontshelwa.”—Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology, kaMarch 1989.

Ukuhlola okunjalo kusikiselani ngokumpontshelwa? Esihlokweni sakhe esithi: “Ukumpontshelwa Igazi Nokuhlinzelwa Umdlavuza,” uDkt. John S. Spratt waphetha: “Udokotela ohlinzayo wezifo zomdlavuza kungase kudingeke ukuba abe udokotela ohlinza ngaphandle kokusebenzisa igazi.”—The American Journal of Surgery, kaSeptember 1986.

Omunye umsebenzi oyinhloko wesimiso somzimba wakho sokuzivikela ukukuvikela ezifweni. Ngakho kunengqondo ukuthi kungani okunye ukuhlola kubonisa ukuthi iziguli ezamukela igazi zingenwa kakhulu izifo. UDkt. P. I. Tartter wenza ukuhlola ngokuphathelene nokuhlinza ithumbu elikhulu nendunu. Ezigulini ezampontshelwa, zingamaphesenti angu-25 ezathola izifo, uma kuqhathaniswa namaphesenti amane alezo ezingazange zimpontshelwe. Uyabika: “Ukumpontshelwa igazi kwahlanganiswa nokuthola izifo ezithathelwanayo uma kwenziwa ngaphambi, phakathi, noma ngemva kokuhlinzwa . . . Ingozi yokuthola isifo ngemva kokuhlinzwa yanda ngokuqhubekayo kuye ngokwesilinganiso segazi elinikeziwe.” (The British Journal of Surgery, ka-August 1988) Labo ababekhona emhlanganweni ka-1989 weNhlangano YaseMelika Yamabhange Egazi bathola lokhu: Nakuba amaphesenti angu-23 alabo abafakwa igazi okunikelwe ngalo lapho behlinzwa ithambo lenqulu elaligudlukile bathola izifo, labo abangafakwanga igazi abazange nhlobo babe nezifo.

UDkt. John A. Collins wabhala ngokuphathelene nalomphumela wokumpontshelwa igazi: “Kungaba okuhlekisa ngempela uma ‘ukwelapha’ okunobufakazi obuncane kakhulu bokufeza noma yini eyinzuzo kungatholakala kamuva kushubisa enye yezinkinga eziyinhloko lezoziguli ezibhekene nazo.”—World Journal of Surgery, kaFebruary 1987.

INGABE ALINAZIFO NOMA LIGCWELE IZINGOZI?

Isifo esithwalwa igazi sikhathaza odokotela abaqotho neziguli eziningi. Yisiphi lesosifo? Eqinisweni, ngeke uthi sinye nje kuphela; ngempela ziningi kakhulu.

Ngemva kokukhuluma ngezifo ezaziwa kakhulu, iTechniques of Blood Transfusion (1982) ikhuluma “ngezinye izifo ezithathelwanayo ezihlangene nokumpontshelwa igazi,” njengogcunsula, icytomegalovirus, nomalaleveva. Khona-ke ithi: “Kuye kwabikwa nezinye izifo eziningi ezidluliselwa ngokumpontshelwa igazi, kuhlanganise nezifo zesikhumba ezibangelwa igciwane elithile, isifo esithathelwanayo semononucleosis (igciwane okuthiwa iEpstein-Barr), itoxoplasmosis, itrypanosomiasis [isifo saseAfrika sobuthongo nesifo sikaChagas], ileishmaniasis, ibrucellosis [imfiva engapheli], ityphus, ifilariasis, isimungumungwane, isalmonellosis, nemfiva yaseColorado edalwa imikhaza.”

Eqinisweni, uhlu lwezifo ezinjalo luyanda. Kungenzeka wake wazifunda izihloko ezinkulu zamaphephandaba ezinjengesithi “Ingabe Isifo SikaLyme Singatholakala Ngokumpontshelwa? Akunakwenzeka, Kodwa Izazi Ziqaphile.” Lilondeke kangakanani igazi elivela kumuntu otholakale enesifo sikaLyme? Elinye iqembu lezisebenzi zezempilo labuzwa ukuthi lalingalemukela yini igazi elinjalo. “Zonke zaphendula ngokuthi cha, nakuba kungekho nesisodwa esasikisela ukuba igazi elinikelwé abantu abanjalo lilahlwe.” Umphakathi kufanele uzizwe kanjani ngegazi eligciniwe ochwepheshe ngokwabo abangeke balamukele?—The New York Times, kaJuly 18, 1989.

Isizathu sesibili sokukhathazeka siwukuthi igazi eliqoqwe kwelinye izwe lapho kwande khona isifo esithile lingase lisetshenziswe endaweni ekude kakhulu, lapho umphakathi noma odokotela bakhona bengazi lutho ngalengozi. Ngokwanda kwezinto zokuhamba namuhla, kuhlanganise ababaleki nabathuthela kwamanye amazwe, iyakhula ingozi yokuthi kungenzeka umkhiqizo othile wegazi unesifo esingandile.

Ngaphezu kwalokho, uchwepheshe wezifo ezithathelwanayo waxwayisa: “Igazi kungase kudingeke ukuba lihlolisiswe ukuze kuvinjelwe ukudluliselwa kwezifo eziningana ezazingabhekwa njengezithathelwanayo ngaphambili, kuhlanganise ileukemia, ilymphoma, nokuphazamiseka okuthile engqondweni [noma isifo sika-Alzheimer].”—Transfusion Medicine Reviews, kaJanuary 1989.

Nakuba lezingozi zihlasimulisa kangaka, ezinye ziye zadala ukwesaba okukhulu ngokwengeziwe.

UBHADANE LWENGCULAZA

“Ingculaza iye yayishintsha phakade indlela odokotela neziguli abacabanga ngayo ngegazi. Futhi lokho akuwona umqondo omubi, kusho odokotela ababebuthene eZakhiweni Zesizwe Zezempilo ngenjongo yomhlangano mayelana nokumpontshelwa igazi.”—Washington Post, kaJuly 5, 1988.

Ubhadane lwengculaza (iAIDS, ngesiNgisi okumelele ukuthi acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) luye lwavusa abantu ngamandla ukuba baphaphamele ingozi yokuthola izifo ezithathelwanayo egazini. Izigidi manje zinaso lesifo. Sibhebhetheka ngendlela enganqandeki. Futhi izinga laso lokubulala empeleni lingamaphesenti ayikhulu.

Ingculaza ibangelwa igciwane labantu elihlasela isimiso sokuzivikela komzimba ezifweni (ngesiNgisi iHIV noma ihuman immunodeficiency virus), elingase lisakazwe igazi. Ubhadane lwanamuhla lwengculaza lwaqala ukuvela ngo-1981. Ngawo kanye unyaka olandelayo, izazi zempilo zathola ukuthi leligciwane cishe lingadluliselwa ngemikhiqizo yegazi. Manje kuyavunywa ukuthi imboni yegazi yalibala ekuthatheni isinyathelo, ngisho nangemva kokuba sezitholakala izindlela zokuhlola ukuze kubonwe igazi eliqukethe amasosha omzimba alwa naleligciwane lengculaza. Ukuhlola igazi lonikelayo kuze kwaqala ngo-1985,a kodwa ngisho nangalesosikhathi akuzange kwenziwe emikhiqizweni yegazi eyase igciniwe kakade.

Ngemva kwalokho umphakathi waqinisekiswa, ‘Igazi manje selilondekile.’ Nokho, kamuva kwembulwa ukuthi “kunenkathi yefasitela” eyingozi ngengculaza. Ngemva kokuba lesifo sesimngenile umuntu, kungase kuthathe izinyanga ngaphambi kokuba abe namasosha omzimba alwa naleligciwane. Engazi ukuthi ufukamele leligciwane, angase anikele igazi elingase lingalibonisi lapho lihlolwa. Lokhu kuye kwenzeka. Abantu baye bangenwa ingculaza ngemva kokuba beye bampontshelwa igazi elinjalo!

Isimo sesibe sibi ngokwedlulele. INew England Journal of Medicine (kaJune 1, 1989) yabika ‘ngabantu Abanegciwane Lengculaza Elicashile.’ Kwaqinisekiswa ukuthi abantu bangalithwala igciwane lengculaza iminyaka eminingi nokho lingatholakali ngokuhlola kwanamuhla okungaqondene nalo ngqó. Abanye bangase bathande ukululaza lokhu ngokuthi kuyivelakancane, kodwa kubonisa “ukuthi ingozi yokudluliselwa kwengculaza ngegazi nezakhi zalo ayinakususwa ngokuphelele.” (Patient Care, kaNovember 30, 1989) Nasi isiphetho esiphazamisayo: Ukuhlola okungalibonisi leligciwane akunakubhekwa njengokuqinisekisa ukuthi igazi alinazo izifo ezithathelwanayo. Bangaki abasazothola ingculaza egazini?

ISICATHULO ESILANDELAYO? NOMA IZICATHULO?

Abaningi abahlala ezitezi baye bawuzwa umsindo wokushaya ngamandla kwesicathulo esisodwa sishaya phansi endlini engaphezu kweyabo; khona-ke bangase babambe amazinyo balindele esilandelayo. Esimweni esibucayi segazi, akekho owaziyo ukuthi zingaki izicathulo ezibulalayo ezisazoshaya.

Igciwane lengculaza labizwa ngokuthi iHIV, kodwa ezinye izazi manje zilibiza ngokuthi iHIV-1. Ngani? Ngoba zitholé elinye igciwane lohlobo lwengculaza (HIV-2). Lingase liveze izimpawu zengculaza futhi lisakazeke kakhulu kwezinye izindawo. Ngaphezu kwalokho, “alibonakali njalo ngezinto zokuhlola ingculaza ezisetshenziswayo manje lapha,” kubika iNew York Times. (June 27, 1989) “Okutholakale muva nje . . . kwenza kube nzima ngokwengeziwe ngamabhange egazi ukuba aqiniseke ukuthi igazi elinikelwayo lilondekile.”

Noma kuthiwani ngezihlobo zegciwane lengculaza ezingasondelene kangako nalo? Inxusa likamongameli (eU.S.A.) lathi elinye igciwane elinjalo “kukholelwa ukuthi liyimbangela yeleukemia noma ilymphoma ehlasela abantu abadala ebangelwa amangqamuzana edlala lethymus futhi liyimbangela yesifo esingathi sína semizwa.” Leligciwane selikhona kakade kubantu abanikela ngegazi futhi lingasakazwa ngegazi. Kufanelekile ukuba abantu bazibuze, ‘Kuphumelela kangakanani ukuhlolwa kwamanye amagciwane anjalo okwenziwa emabhange egazi?’

Ngempela, ukuhamba kwesikhathi kuphela okuyositshela ukuthi mangaki amagciwane athwalwa igazi aqube egazini. “Okungase kube imbangela enkulu yokukhathazeka yilokho okungaziwa kunalokho okwaziwayo,” kubhala uDkt. Harold T. Meryman. “Amagciwane angase adluliselwe afukanyelwa isikhathi esilinganiswa ngeminyaka eminingi kuyoba nzima ukusho ukuthi abangelwé ukumpontshelwa futhi kube nzima ngisho nangokwengeziwe ukuwabona. Iqembu lamagciwane eHTLV ngokuqinisekile limane nje lingelokuqala kulawa ukuba libonakale.” (Transfusion Medicine Reviews, kaJuly 1989) “Njengokungathi ubhadane lwengculaza alulona usizi ngokwanele, . . . idlanzana lezingozi zokumpontshelwa okusanda kukhulunywa ngazo noma ezisanda kuchazwa liye ladonsa ukunakekela phakathi nawo-1980. Akudingi ukucabangela okukhulu ukubikezela ukuthi kukhona ezinye izifo ezingathi sína ezithwalwa amagciwane futhi zidluliselwa ngokumpontshelwa igazi labanye.”—Limiting Homologous Exposure: Alternative Strategies, 1989.

Kuye kwashaya “izicathulo” eziningi kakhulu kangangokuba iziKhungo Zokunqanda Izifo zitusa “ukuqapha endaweni yonke.” Okungukuthi, ‘izisebenzi ezinakekela impilo kufanele zithathe ngokungathi zonke iziguli zinegciwane lengculaza kanye namanye amagciwane ezifo athwalwa igazi.’ Ngesizathu esihle, izisebenzi ezinakekela impilo namalungu omphakathi zibukeza kabusha umbono wazo ngegazi.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 8]

“Kulinganiselwa ukuthi ukumpontshelwa okukodwa kokuyikhulu kuhambisana nemfiva, isifo soqhuqho, noma ukuqubuka [“hives”]. . . . Kulinganiselwa ukuthi ukumpontshelwa amangqamuzana abomvu okukodwa kokungu-6 000 kuphumela ekuwohlokeni kwamangqamuzana abomvu ngenxa yokungezwani nokumpontshelwa. Lokhu kuwukusabela okungathi sína kwesimiso somzimba sokuzivikela okungase kuvele ngokushesha noma ezinsukwini ezithile ngemva kokumpontshelwa uma kulitshazisiwe; kungase kuphumele ekungasebenzini kahle [kwezinso] okungathi sína, ekuqulekeni, ekujiyeni kwegazi emithanjeni, ngisho nasekufeni.”—Umhlangano weNational Institutes of Health (NIH), 1988.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 9]

Isazi sesayensi saseDenmark uNiels Jerne wahlanganyela nomunye ekuzuzeni uMklomelo KaNobel Kwezokwelapha Ka-1984. Lapho ebuzwa ukuthi kungani enqaba ukumpontshelwa igazi, wathi: “Igazi lomuntu lifana nemigqa yeminwe yakhe—azikho izinhlobo ezimbili zegazi ezifana ncamashí.”

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 10]

IGAZI, IZIBINDI EZILIMELE, NE- . . .

“Ngokuhlekisayo, ingculaza ethwalwa igazi . . . ayikaze ibe usongo olukhulu njengezinye izifo—ngokwesibonelo, isifo sokusha kwesibindi,” kuchaza iWashington Post.

Yebo, amanani amakhulu abantu aye agula kakhulu futhi aye afa ebulawa isifo esinjalo sokusha kwesibindi, esingenayo indlela eqondile yokuselapha. NgokweU.S.News & World Report (kaMay 1, 1989), abangaba amaphesenti angu-5 alabo abafakwa igazi eUnited States bathola isifo sokusha kwesibindi—abantu abangu-175 000 ngonyaka. Cishe ingxenye yabo iba abathwali balesifo abangenakulashwa, futhi okungenani oyedwa kwabayisihlanu uba nesifo sokuqina kwesibindi noma umdlavuza wesibindi. Kulinganiselwa ukuthi abangu-4 000 bayafa. Cabanga ngezihloko eziphambili zamaphephandaba obungazifunda ukuba kwakuphahlazeke indiza yejumbo, yabulala bonke ababegibele. Kodwa ukufa kwabantu abangu-4 000 kulingana nokuphahlazeka kwendiza yejumbo inyanga ngayinye!

Sekuyisikhathi eside odokotela bazi ukuthi isifo sokusha kwesibindi (sohlobo A) esingeyona ingozi kangako sasisakazeka ngokudla noma ngamanzi angcolile. Khona-ke babona ukuthi uhlobo olubi kakhulu lwaso lwalusakazeka ngegazi, futhi babengenandlela yokulihlola. Ekugcineni, ososayensi abahlakaniphile bayithola indlela yokubona “imikhondo” yaleligciwane (uhlobo B). Ngasekuqaleni kwawo-1970, igazi lase lihlolwa kwamanye amazwe. Ukusetshenziswa kwegazi kwabonakala kulondekile futhi ikusasa legazi likhazimula! Noma ingabe kwakunjalo?

Kungakedluli isikhathi eside kwacaca ukuthi izinkulungwane ezazifakwe igazi elihloliwe zazisalokhu ziba naso isifo sokusha kwesibindi. Abaningi ngemva kokugula okwakubenza buthaka, bathola ukuthi izibindi zabo zazilimele. Kodwa uma igazi lalihloliwe, kungani lokhu kwakwenzeka? Igazi lalinolunye uhlobo lwalesifo, olubizwa ngokuthi isifo sokusha kwesibindi esingesona esohlobo A noma B (ngesiNgisi non-A, non-B [NANB]). Iminyaka eyishumi sasilokhu sihlupha abampontshelwayo—amaphesenti aphakathi kwangu-8 kuya kwangu-17 alabo abampontshelwa kwaIsrael, eItaly, eJapane, eSpain, eSweden, naseUnited States asithola lesifo.

Khona-ke kwavela izihloko eziphambili zamaphephandaba ezinjengalezi “Igciwane Elingaqondakali Lesifo Sokusha Kwesibindi Esingesiso Esohlobo A noma B Selitholakele Ekugcineni”; “Ukuphihliza Imfiva Egazini.” Isigijimi saphinde sathi, ‘Isici ebesilokhu siphunyuka sitholakele!’ NgoApril 1989, umphakathi watshelwa ukuthi sekuyatholakala ukuhlolwa kweNANB, manje ebizwa ngokuthi isifo sokusha kwesibindi sohlobo C.

Ungase uzibuze ukuthi ingabe lenjabulo ayifikanga yini kungakabi isikhathi. Eqinisweni, abacwaningi baseNtaliyane baye babika elinye igciwane lesifo sokusha kwesibindi, elidalwa izinguquko ezicini zofuzo, okungenzeka ukuthi yilo elibangela ingxenye yesithathu yaleziguli. “Ezinye izazi,” kuphawula iHarvard Medical School Health Letter (kaNovember 1989), “zikhathazeke ngokuthi u-A, B, C, noD akuwona ukuphela kwama-alfabhethi amagciwane esifo sokusha kwesibindi; kungenzeka kuvele amanye engeziwe.” INew York Times (kaFebruary 13, 1990) yathi: “Izazi zisola ngokunamandla sengathi amanye amagciwane angasibangela isifo sokusha kwesibindi; uma etholakala, ayonikezwa amagama okuthi isifo sokusha kwesibindi E kuqhubeke.”

Ingabe amabhange egazi abhekene nokucwaninga okwengeziwe kwesikhathi eside kokufuna izindlela zokuhlola ukuze enze igazi lilondeke? Ebhekisela enkingeni yezindleko, umqondisi wabeSiphambano Esibomvu BaseMelika wenza lokhu kukhulumela okuphazamisayo: “Asikwazi ukuqhubeka njalo sihlola isifo ngasinye esithathelwanayo esingase sisakazeke.”—Medical World News, kaMay 8, 1989.

Ngisho nokuhlola isifo sokusha kwesibindi sohlobo B kunamaphutha; abaningi basasithola egazini. Ngaphezu kwalokho, ingabe abantu bayokwaneliswa ukuhlolwa kwesifo sokusha kwesibindi sohlobo C okumenyezelwe? IJournal of the American Medical Association (kaJanuary 5, 1990) yabonisa ukuthi kungase kudlule unyaka ngaphambi kokuba amasosha omzimba alwisana nalesifo abonakale lapho kuhlolwa. Phakathi nalesosikhathi, abantu abampontshelwa lelogazi bangase babhekane nokuba nezibindi ezilimele—nokufa.

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Isifo sikaChagas sibonisa indlela igazi elithwala ngayo isifo lisiyise kubantu abakude. “IMedical Post” (kaJanuary 16, 1990) ibika ukuthi ‘abantu abayizigidi ezingu-10 kuya kwezingu-12 eLatin America bangenwe yilesifo esiyoba amahlala khona.’ Siye sabizwa ngokuthi “enye yezingozi zokumpontshelwa ezibaluleke kakhulu eNingizimu Melika.” “Imbungulu ephila ngezinye izinambuzane” iluma isisulu esilele ebusweni, imunce igazi, bese ishiya uthuvi bayo enxebeni. Isisulu singase sithwale isifo sikaChagas iminyaka eminingi (mhlawumbe sinikele ngegazi phakathi nalesosikhathi) ngaphambi kokuba siqalwe yizinkinga zesifo senhliziyo ezingasibulala.

Kungani lokho kufanele kukhathaze abantu abahlala emazwekazini akude? Kuyi“New York Times” (kaMay 23, 1989), uDkt. L. K. Altman wabika ngeziguli ezathola isifo sikaChagas ngemva kokumpontshelwa, esinye sazo safa. UAltman wabhala: “Kungenzeka ukuthi zikhona ezinye iziguli ezithintekile kodwa ezingazange zibonwe ngenxa yokuthi [odokotela lapha] abajwayelene nesifo sikaChagas, futhi abaqapheli ukuthi singasakazwa ngokumpontshelwa.” Yebo, igazi lingaba inqola izifo ezihamba ngayo kabanzi.

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UDkt. Knud Lund-Olesen wabhala: “Njengoba . . . abantu abathile abasengozini enkulu yokuthwala izifo benikela ngegazi ngokuzithandela ngokubona ukuthi kubanikeza ithuba elizenzekelayo lokuhlolwa isifo sengculaza, nginomuzwa wokuthi sikhona isizathu sokuba manqikanqika ngokuvuma ukumpontshelwa igazi. Sekuyiminyaka eminingi oFakazi BakaJehova bekwenqaba lokhu. Ingabe babheka esikhathini esizayo?”—“Ugeskrift for Læger” (Doctors’ Weekly), September 26, 1988.

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UPapa wasinda ngemva kokudutshulwa. Ngemva kokuba esephumile esibhedlela, wabuyiselwa walaliswa izinyanga ezimbili, “esezinhlungwini ezinkulu.” Ngani? Ngenxa yesifo esasingambulala secytomegalovirus ayesithole egazini ayelimpontshelwe

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UPI/Bettmann Newsphotos

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Igciwane lengculaza

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CDC, Atlanta, Ga.