Ngaba Inzululwazi Inokunyanga Zonke Izifo?

NGABA ihlabathi linokunyangwa yinzululwazi? Ngaba isiprofeto sikaIsaya nesikwiSityhilelo sithi umntu uya kukuphelisa ukugula ehlabathini? Xa sikhangela oko kuye kwaphunyezwa ekunyangeni abantu, abanye abantu basenokuvakalelwa ukuba oko kunokwenzeka.

Ngaxhatha-linye, oorhulumente, imibutho yabucala neZizwe Ezimanyeneyo, bakwiphulo elinxamnye nezifo ngendlela engazange ibonwe ngaphambili. Eyona nto ixhalatyelweyo kukugonywa kwabantwana kumazwe asakhasayo. Ngokutsho kweUnited Nations Children’s Fund, ukuba ilizwe linokufikelela usukelo lwalo, ngowama-2015, ngaphezu kwabantwana abazizigidi ezingama-70 kwawona mazwe ahluphekileyo, banokufumana izitofu ezilwa nezi zifo zilandelayo: isifo sephepha, umqala omhlophe, ukuminxana imihlathi, unkonkonko, irhashalala, imasisi, irubella, icesina, ukudumba kwesibindi nokudumba kobuchopho, ipoliyo, irotavirus, ipneumococcus, imeningococcus, kunye neJapanese encephalitis.” Kulungiselelwe nokuba kubekho amalungiselelo empilo asisiseko, afana namanzi, isondlo esisempilweni nokubafundisa ngococeko.

Noko ke, izazinzulu zikulangazelela ngamehlo abomvu ukulungiselela okungaphaya konyango olusisiseko. Ubugcisa banamhlanje buye bayiguqula ngokupheleleyo indlela yabantu yokucinga ngezonyango. Kuthiwa kwiminyaka esibhozo, izazinzulu zikuphinda kabini oko zikwaziyo ngonyango. Khawuphos’ amehlo kwiindlela zanamhlanje zonyango nalapho zijonge khona ekulweni nezifo.

◼ Imifanekiso yeX-Reyi Yiminyaka engama-30 ngoku oogqirha nezibhedlele besebenzisa oko kwaziwa ngokuba yiCT scan okanye icomputed tomography. IiCT scaner zivelisa imifanekiso enamacala amathathu omzimba wethu ngaphakathi. Le mifanekiso iluncedo ekufumaniseni isifo somguli nasekuxilongeni amalungu angaphakathi omzimba.

Nakuba kukho impikiswano ngeengozi ezinxulumene nemitha evela kolu hlobo lonyango, iingcali zonyango zijong’ enkalweni ekuphuculweni kwale ndlela yonyango. UMichael Vannier, unjingalwazi kwisebe leX-reyi kwiUniversity of Chicago Hospital, uthi: “Kwiminyaka nje embalwa edluleyo, inkqubela eyenziweyo ingaphaya kwengqondo.”

IiCT scanner ngoku ziyakhawuleza, zichane nangakumbi yaye azibizi mali ingako. Phakathi kwezona nzuzo zibalulekileyo kule ndlela yonyango kukukhawuleza kwayo. Oku kubaluleke ngakumbi xa kufotwa intliziyo. Ngenxa yokuba intliziyo isoloko ishukuma, imifanekiso yayo yeX-reyi ibidla ngokuphuma iluzizi, ngaloo ndlela kusiba nzima ukuyibona kakuhle. Iphephancwadi iNew Scientist lithi, iiX-reyi ezininzi zithabatha “isinye kwisithathu somzuzwana ukujikeleza umzimba wonke, ngokukhawuleza kunokubetha kwentliziyo,” ngaloo ndlela isenza umfanekiso wentliziyo ubonakale kakuhle.

Ngoncedo lweeX-reyi ezintsha, oogqirha ababoni nje kuphela imifanekiso yangaphakathi komzimba kodwa namachiza asebenza ngaphakathi kwiindawo ezithile. Oku kunokwenza kube lula ukubona umhlaza usaqala.

◼ Ukutyandwa Yirobhoti Ubuxhakaxhaka beerobhothi abuselulo nje iphupha kwezonyango. Ngamawakawaka abantu abasele betyandiwe ngoncedo lwerobhothi. Ngamanye amaxesha, umtyandi usebenzisa iremote-control eyenza kube lula ukusebenzisa iingalo zerobhothi. Ezi ngalo zineemela, izikere, iikhamera iicauteries, nezinye izixhobo zokuxilonga. Obu bugcisa buye banceda abatyandi ukuze benze umsebenzi wabo ngononophelo. Iphephancwadi iNewsweek lithi: “Abatyandi abasebenzisa le nkqubo baye bafumanisa ukuba abaguli bopha kancinane yaye abanazintlungu kangako, ababinazo iingxaki emva kotyando, bahlala ixesha elifutshane esibhedlele yaye bachacha ngokukhawuleza kunabo benza utyando oluqhelekileyo.”

◼ Iinanomedicine Iinanomedicine kukusetyenziswa kobugcisa obubizwa ngokuba yinanotechnology kwinkqubo yokunyanga. Kwelinye icala iinanotechnology yinzululwazi yokusebenzisa nokwenza izinto ezincinane. Indlela yokulinganisa ezo zinto zincinane ibizwa ngokuba yinanometer. Iinanometer ezingamawaka ezigidi zenza imitha enye.a

Ukuze ubuqonde kakuhle ubuncinane bale ndlela yokubala masenze umzekelo ngeli phepha ulifundayo, limalunga neenanometer ezingama-100 000 ubukhulu, unwele lomntu lumalunga nama-80 000 eenanometer ubukhulu. Iseli ebomvu imalunga nama-2 500 ubukhulu. Intsholongwane imalunga neenananometer ezili-1 000 ubude yaye iintsholongwane ezincinane zimalunga neenanometer ezili-100 ubude. IDNA yakho imalunga neenanometer ezisisi-2,5 ubukhulu.

Iingcali zobu bugcisa zikholelwa kwelokuba kungekudala, izazinzulu zinokuyila izixhobo ezincinane ukuze zinyange umntu ngaphakathi emzimbeni. Zidla ngokubizwa ngokuba ziinanomachines, ezi robhothi zincinane zinokuthwala iikhompyutha ezincinane ezinemiyalelo engqalileyo. Okubangel’ umdla kukuba aba matshini baza kuba namalungu amancinane kunenanometer ezilikhulu. Oku kuthetha ukuba aba matshini baza kuba bancinane ngokuphindaphindwe kangangama-25 kuneseli yegazi ebomvu!

Ngenxa yokuba zincinane kakhulu ezi zixhobo, kukho ithemba lokuba ziya kuhanjiswa kwimithanjana nokuze zithwale ioksijini ziyise kwiindawo ezingenayo ukuze zisuse ukuxinana kwimithambo yegazi nokungcola okusebuchotsheni, mhlawumbi nasekufuneni nasekubulaleni iintsholongwane nezinye izinto ezasulelayo. Aba matshini bancinane basenokusetyenziselwa ekuthumeleni amayeza ngokungqalileyo kwiiseli eziwafunayo.

Izazinzulu ziqikelela ukuba umhlaza uza kubonwa kuselithuba ngenxa yaba matshini bancinane. Unjingalwazi wamayeza nenzululwazi nasekusetyenzisweni kwamayeza, uGqr. Samuel Wickline uthi: “Umhlaza unokufumaneka lula yaye usaqala kunokuba kwakunjalo ngaphambili yaye kusenokusetyenziswa amayeza aluncedo aze athunyelwe ngqo kwindawo enomhlaza kuphela, kwangaxeshanye kungabikho miphumo mibi kamva.”

Nakuba oku kunokuvakala ngathi ngamaphupha asemini, izixhobo zenanomedicine ziyinto yokoqobo kwizazinzulu ezininzi. Abahlolisisi abaphambili kule ndlela yonyango bacinga ukuba kwiminyaka elishumi ezayo, ezi zixhobo ziya kusetyenziswa ukulungisa iiseli ezonakeleyo nezaluphalayo. Omnye otshotsh’ entla kule ndlela yonyango uthi: “Indlela yokunyanga yokusebenzisa izixhobo ezincinane iza kuziphelisa zonke izigulo eziqhelekileyo zenkulungwane yama-20, zonke izinto ezibangela iintlungu zize zenze into yokuba abantu baphile kangangoko banako.” Phofu, nangoku oogqirha abaninzi bathi le ndlela yonyango iyaphumelela kwizilwanyana eziye zavavanywa.

◼ Iigenomics Ukufunda ngemizila yemfuza kwaziwa ngokuba yigenomics. Iseli nganye esemzimbeni inamalungu awahlukahlukeneyo nabalulekileyo ebomini. Elinye lala malungu yimizila yemfuza. Mntu ngamnye kuthi unemizila yemfuza engama-35 000 eyenza ukuba sibe nebala leenwele, lolusu namehlo, ikwachaza nobude nezinye izinto ezibonakala emzimbeni. Imizila yethu yemfuza ikwachaza nokomelela kwamalungu ethu angaphakathi.

Xa imizila yemfuza yonakele, oko kunokudodobalisa impilo yethu. Eneneni, abanye abaphengululi bakholelwa kwelokuba zonke izifo zivela ngenxa yokusilela kwemizila yemfuza. Eminye imizila yemfuza eyonakeleyo isuka kubazali bethu. Eminye yonakaliswa zizinto eziyingozi ezikwimeko-bume yethu.

Izazinzulu zinethemba lokuba kungekudala ziza kukwazi ukubona imizila yemfuza enezifo. Oku kunokwenza oogqirha baqonde isizathu sokuba abanye abantu betyekele ekubeni nomhlaza kunabanye nesizathu sokuba uhlobo oluthile lomhlaza lusiba yingozi kwabanye abantu. Iigenomics zinokubonisa isizathu sokuba amanye amayeza esebenza kwabanye abantu abagulayo kodwa engasebenzi kwabanye abantu.

Olu hlobo lonyango lunokwenza umntu afumane unyango olufanele yena yedwa. Unokungenelwa njani kule ndlela yonyango? Eyona nto ithethwa lunyango lomntu ngamnye kukuba, kunokwenziwa amayeza alungiselelwe imizila yemfuza yakho ngokukhethekileyo. Ngokomzekelo, ukuba kuhlolisiso olwenziweyo kufunyaniswa ukuba usesichengeni sokuba nesifo esithile, oogqirha banokufumanisa ngesi sifo ngaphambi kokuba kubonakale nkqu imiqondiso yeso sifo. Izazinzulu eziphambili kweli phulo zithi ukuba isifo saziwa singekabonakali, unyango olufanelekileyo, ukutya ngendlela esempilweni nokutshintsha eminye imikhwa yokuphila kunokusikhusela kweso sifo ngokupheleleyo.

Imizila yakho yemfuza inokulumkisa oogqirha ngamayeza angakulungeliyo. Le nkcazelo inokunceda oogqirha bakunike amayeza asebenzelana ngokuthe ngqo nawe nomlinganiselo omele uwusebenzise. Iphephandaba iThe Boston Globe lithi: “Ngowama 2020, inkqubela [yonyango yomntu ngamnye] ikhangeleka isiya kuhambela phambili kunokuba sicinga namhlanje. Amayeza alungiselelwe umntu ngamnye ngokukhethekileyo aza kwenzelwa abantu abanesifo seswekile, isifo sentliziyo, isifo sika-Alzheimer, ischizophrenia nezinye izifo ezithath’ unyawo kubantu abaninzi.”

Zonke ezi ndlela zingentla zibonisa ithemba elinayo inzululwazi. Ulwazi ngonyango lukhula ngendlela engathethekiyo. Kodwa izazinzulu azikakucingi nokukucinga ukuphelisa izifo. Kodwa isekho imiqobo ebonakala ingenakuphetshwa.

Imiqobo Ebonakala Ingenakuphetshwa

Indlela abantu abaziphethe ngayo inokuyibambezela inkqubela yokupheliswa kwezifo. Ngokomzekelo, izazinzulu zikholelwa kwelokuba indlela abantu abaye bayonakalisa ngayo indalo kuye kwakhokelela kwizifo eziyingozi ezintsha. Kudliwano-ndlebe nephephancwadi iNewsweek, umongameli weWildlife Trust, uMary Pearl uthe: “Ukususela ngeminyaka yee-1970, zingaphezu kwama-30 izifo eziye zavela, eziquka uGawulayo, iEbola, iLyme disease neSARS. Uninzi lwezi zifo kukholelwa ukuba ziye zasuka kwizilwanyana zaza zanwenwela ebantwini.”

Ukongezelela, abantu abazityi kangako iziqhamo nemifuno yaye basebenzisa iswekile, ityuwa namafutha amaninzi. Xa ezi zinto zidityaniswa nokungenzi umthambo ngokwaneleyo neminye imikhwa eyingozi empilweni, oko kuye kwaphumela kwisifo sentliziyo. Bayanda abantu abatshayayo yaye oku kukhokelela kwiingxaki zempilo nokufa kwezigidi zabantu ehlabathi lonke. Nyaka ngamnye abantu abazizigidi ezingama-20 benzakala ngokumasikizi okanye bafe ngenxa yeengozi ezindleleni. Iimfazwe nezinye iindlela zolwaphulo-mthetho zibulala zize zingxwelerhe inkitha yabantu. Izigidi zabantu zinempilo enkenenkene ngenxa yokusela utywala kakhulu nangenxa yokusebenzisa iziyobisi.

Inyaniso ikukuba, kungakhathaliseki ukuba siyintoni isizekabani nako konke ukuhambela phambili kwezamayeza, ezinye izifo zisaqhubeka zithath’ unyawo. Ngokutsho kweWorld Health Organization (WHO), ‘ngaphezu kwabantu abazizigidi ezili-150 banesifo sokudandatheka, malunga nezigidi ezingama-25 zinesifo ischizophrenia, yaye abantu abazizigidi ezingama-38 banesifo sokuxhuzula.’ Ugawulayo nentsholongwane yawo, isifo sorhudo, isifo seengcongconi, imasisi, inyumoniya nesifo sephepha, ezi zifo ziye zasulela abantu abazizigidi yaye zibulala abantwana nabantu abadala abaninzi.

Kukho neminye imiqobo eme phambi kokuphela kwezifo. Intlupheko noorhulumente abangakhathaliyo yeyona miqobo mikhulu. Kwingxelo yakutshanje, i-WHO iye yathi abantu abazizigidi abaye bafa ngenxa yezifo ezasulelayo bebenokusinda ukuba urhulumente ebenokuxhasa ngemali.

Ngaba ulwazi nenkqubela yenzululwazi inokunceda ekushenxiseni le miqobo? Ngaba ngenye imini sakuze sibone ihlabathi elingenazo izifo? Enyanisweni, imiba esiye sayishukuxa isishiya neempendulo ezingacacanga. IBhayibhile, iyasiphendula kule mibuzo. Inqaku elilandelayo liza kubonisa oko iBhayibhile ethi kuza kwenzeka kwixesha elizayo xa ukugula kuya kube kungasekho.

[Umbhalo osemazantsi]

[Ibhokisi/Imifanekiso ekwiphepha 7]

Imifanekiso yeX-reyi

Kucacile ukuba imifanekiso yomzimba womntu ichanile yaye inokunceda ugqirha afumanise isifo sisaqala

[Inkcazelo]

© Philips

Siemens AG

Uqhaqho olwenziwa yirobothi

Iirobhoti zifakelwe izixhobo zokunceda oogqirha ukuze benze uqhaqho olunzima ngendlela ephumelelayo

[Inkcazelo]

© 2006 Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

Iinanomedicine

Oomatshini abancinane abenziwe ngabantu basenokunceda oogqirha ukuze banyange izifo ukususela kwiiseli. Le foto ibonisa omnye waba matshini ulinganisa umsebenzi owenziwa ziiseli zegazi

[Inkcazelo]

Artist: Vik Olliver (vik@diamondage.co.nz)/Designer: Robert Freitas

Iigenomics

Ngokufunda ngemizila yemfuza, izazinzulu zinethemba lokuba zinokubona kusengaphambili isifo nkqu ngaphambi kokuba siqale

[Inkcazelo]

Chromosomes: © Phanie/Photo Researchers, Inc.

[Ibhokisi ekwiphepha 8, 9]

Izifo Ezintandathu Ezinganyangekiyo

Ulwazi ngonyango nobugcisa obunxulumene nabo lwenze inkqubela engathethekiyo. Nakuba kunjalo, izifo ezasulelayo zisaqhubeka zithwaxa ihlabathi. Nalu uluhlu lwezona zifo zikhoyo nezibulala abantu.

UGawulayo

Ngabantu abazizigidi ezingama-60 abanentsholongwane kaGawulayo yaye abazizigidi ezingama-20 baye bafa. Ngowama-2005 abantu abazizigidi ezihlanu abaye basulelwa yaye abazizigidi ezithathu baye bafa ngenxa kaGawulayo. Oku kuquka abantwana abangama-500 000. Uninzi lwabantu abanentsholongwane kaGawulayo abalufumani unyango olufanelekileyo.

Isifo Sorhudo

Sibulala abantu abangamawaka ezigidi ezine nyaka ngamnye, isifo sorhudo sichazwa njengesona sibulala abantu abaninzi abahlwempuzekileyo. Unobangela wesi sifo kukwasulelwa zizifo ezidluliselwa ngamanzi, ukutya nococeko lomzimba. Ezi zinto zibulala abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezibini.

Isifo Seengcongconi

Nyaka ngamnye zizigidi ezingama-300 zabantu abagula sisifo sengcongconi. Sisigidi sabantu abafa nyaka ngamnye yaye uninzi ngabantwana. EAfrika, kufa umntwana omnye kwimizuzwana engama-30 ngenxa yesi sifo. Ngokutsho kweWorld Health Organization (WHO), “ngokwenzululwazi alikabikho iyeza lesifo sengcongconi yaye abantu abaninzi bayathandabuza ukuba liya kuze libekho.”

Imasisi

Ngowama-2003, imasisi iye yabulala abantu abangaphezu kwama-500 000. Sesona sifo sibulala abantwana yaye sesona sifo sasulelayo. Nyaka ngamnye abantu abamalunga nezigidi ezingama-30 basulelwa yimasisi. Int’ efike ixake kukuba, isitofu esisebenzayo nesixabisa imali encinane kakhulu besisoloko sikho kule minyaka ingama-40 idluleyo.

Inyumoniya

Ngokutsho kwe-WHO baninzi abantwana ababulawa yinyumoniya ngaphezu kwaso nasiphi na esinye isifo. Malunga nabantwana abangaphezu kwezigidi ezibini abangaphantsi kweminyaka emihlanu babulawa yinyumoniya. Uninzi lwaba bantwana luhlala kumazwe aseAfrika nakuMzantsi-ntshona waseAsia. Amanye amazwe akalufumani ngokwaneleyo unyango.

Isifo Sephepha

Ngonyaka wama-2003, isifo sephepha siye sabulala abantu abasisi-1 700 000. Eyona nto ixhalabisa amagosa ezonyango kukungasebenzi kwamayeza esifo sephepha. Amanye amayeza athenjiweyo esifo sephepha akasasebenzi kakuhle. La mayeza akasebenzi kakuhle ebantwini abangalusebenzisi kakuhle unyango.

[Ibhokisi/Umfanekiso okwiphepha 9]

Ezinye Iindlela Zonyango Zihambela Phambili

Kukho indlela ezahlukeneyo zonyango ezingamkelwayo ngoogqirha abaninzi bamayeza. Kwezi ndlela zonyango kubalwa amaxhwele nezinye iindlela zonyango. Kumazwe asakhasayo uninzi lwabantu luxhomekeke emayezeni esintu. Abantu abahlala kwiindawo ezihlwempuzekileyo abakwazi ukufikelela amaxabiso amayeza njengokuba abanye bekhetha ukusebenzisa amayeza esintu.

Ezinye iindlela zonyango zihambela phambili nakumazwe afumileyo. Phakathi kwezona ndlela ziphambili zonyango yicupuncture, ukulungelelaniswa kwamalungu omzimba, ihomeopathy, inaturopathy nokusebenzisa amayeza emvelo. Ezinye zezi ndlela zonyango ziye zahlolisiswa zaza zangqineka zisebenza kwiimeko ezithile. Ukuphumelela kwezinye iindlela zonyango akukangqinwa ngokupheleleyo. Ukwanda kwezinye iindlela zonyango kuye kwenza abantu abaninzi bacinga ngokhuseleko. Kumazwe amaninzi akukho mithetho ibekiweyo yendlela zokusebenzisa ezi ndlela zonyango. Oku kukhokelela ekubeni abantu abaninzi bafune iindlela zokuzinyanga eziyingozi, amayeza angekho mgangathweni yaye abantu bayaqhathwa. Nakuba beneenjongo ezintle, abahlobo nezalamane abangenalo uqeqesho olufanelekileyo basenokufuna ukuzenza oogqirha. Oku kuye kwanemiphumo emibi yaye kwabeka ubomi babanye esichengeni.

Kwamanye amazwe kukho imiqathango ebekiweyo, ezinye iindlela zonyango zamkelekile koogqirha bamayeza yaye abanye babo bacebisa abagulayo ukuba basebenzise zona. Nakuba kunjalo, akukho namnye ozingomb’ isifuba ngelokuba ezi ndlela zonyango zinokuphelisa ukugula.