Ingabe Isayensi Izowelapha Umhlaba?

INGABE isayensi yamanje izowelapha umhlaba? Ingabe iziprofetho zeBhayibheli zika-Isaya nesAmbulo zibhekisela esikhathini lapho umuntu eyoqeda khona ukugula emhlabeni? Uma bebheka izinto eziningi eziye zafezwa kwezempilo, abanye bacabanga ukuthi lokhu akuyona into engenakwenzeka.

Ohulumeni nezinhlangano zosizo ezizimele sezibambisene neZizwe Ezihlangene emkhankasweni wokulwa nezifo ongakaze ube khona ngaphambili. Omunye umzamo wokubambisana ugxile ekugonyweni kwezingane emazweni asathuthuka. Ngokwe-United Nations Children’s Fund, uma amazwe engafinyelela imigomo yawo, “ngo-2015, abantwana abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-70 basemazweni ahlupheka kakhulu bayothola njalo ngonyaka imithi esindisa ukuphila enqanda lezi zifo ezilandelayo: isifo sofuba, uxhilo, umhlathi-ngqi, ugonqogonqo, isimungumungwana, i-rubella, i-yellow fever, i-haemophilus influenzae yohlobo B, ukusha kwesibindi kohlobo B, uvendle, i-rotavirus, i-pneumococcus, i-meningococcus, kanye nesifo saseJapane sokuvuvukala kobuchopho.” Kuthathwa nezinyathelo zokulungiselela izinto eziyisidingo zokunakekela impilo, njengokutholakala kwamanzi ahlanzekile anele, ukudla okunempilo nokufundiswa kwabantu ngenhlanzeko.

Nokho, ososayensi bafisa ukunikeza okungaphezu nje kokunakekelwa kwempilo okuyisisekelo. Ubuchwepheshe banamuhla buguqula umkhakha wezokwelapha. Kuthiwa njalo ngemva kweminyaka engu-8, ososayensi baluphinda kabili ulwazi lwabo lwezokwelapha. Okulandelayo kumane nje kuyisibonelo sezinye zezinto zamuva zobuchwepheshe nemigomo abayifinyelele ekulweni nezifo.

◼ Ukuthwebula Izithombe Nge-X Ray Sekuyiminyaka engaphezu kwengu-30 odokotela nezibhedlela besebenzisa umshini okuthiwa i-CT scan. Isifushaniso esithi CT simelela ukuthi computed tomography. Ama-CT scanner akhipha izithombe ze-X ray ezibonisa zonke izinhlangothi zengaphakathi lemizimba yethu. Lezi zithombe ziwusizo ekuhlonzweni kwezifo nalapho kuhlolwa okuthile okungahambi kahle emzimbeni.

Nakuba kunezimpikiswano ngezingozi zokuchayeka emisebeni, ochwepheshe bezokwelapha banethemba lokuthi kuyoba khona izinzuzo ngokusetshenziswa kwalobu buchwepheshe obuphambili. UMichael Vannier, onguprofesa wesayensi yokusetshenziswa kwemisebe e-University of Chicago Hospital, uthi: “Eminyakeni embalwa nje edlule, kuye kwaba khona intuthuko enkulu ngendlela eyisimanga.”

Ama-CT scanner aseyashesha manje, asenembe kakhulu futhi ashibhile. Enye into enhle ngale mishini emisha yokuthwebula izithombe ukuthi inejubane. Kuyiqiniso lokhu ikakhulukazi lapho kuthwetshulwa isithombe senhliziyo. Ngenxa yokuthi inhliziyo ihlale ishaya ngaso sonke isikhathi, izithombe zayo eziningi ze-X-ray zazivame ukuphuma zingacacile kahle, okwakwenza kube nzima ukuzihlaziya ngokunembile. Njengoba umagazini i-New Scientist uchaza, imishini emisha yokuthwebula izithombe ithatha “ingxenye eyodwa kwezintathu zomzuzwana ukuzungeza umzimba wonke, ishesha ukwedlula ukubhakuza okukodwa kwenhliziyo,” okwenza ithwebule izithombe ezicace kakhulu.

Ngosizo lwemishini emisha yokuthwebula, odokotela abagcini nje ngokubona imininingwane yokwakheka kwengaphakathi lomzimba kodwa bakwazi nokuhlola ukusebenza kwamakhemikhali ezindaweni ezithile zomzimba. Le nqubo ingenza ukuba umdlavuza ubonakale usaqala.

◼ Ukuhlinza Ngamarobhothi Amarobhothi ayinkimbinkimbi awaseyona inganekwane nje—ikakhulukazi emkhakheni wezokwelapha. Kakade, ukuhlinza okuningi sekwenziwa ngosizo lwamarobhothi. Ngezinye izikhathi odokotela bahlinza bekude ngemishini elawula izingalo zamarobhothi eziningana. Lezi zingalo zinemimese yokuhlinza, izikele, amakhamera, ama-cautery, kanye namanye amathuluzi okuhlinza. Lobu buchwepheshe benza odokotela abahlinzayo bakwazi ukuhlinza izindawo ezibucayi kalula nje. “Odokotela abahlinza ngale ndlela baye bathola ukuthi iziguli azophi kakhulu futhi azibuzwa ubuhlungu obukhulu, ziyancipha izinkinga ngemva kokuhlinzwa, zihlala isikhathi esincane esibhedlela futhi zisheshe zilulame kunalezo ezihlinzwa ngendlela evamile,” kubika umagazini i-Newsweek.

◼ Ukwelapha Ngemishini Emincane Le ndlela yokwelapha okuthiwa i-nanomedicine isebenzisa ubuchwepheshe be-nanotechnology. I-nanotechnology isayensi yokusebenzisa nokwakha izinto ezincane kakhulu. Isilinganiso esisetshenziswa kulobu buchwepheshe sibizwa ngokuthi i-nanometer, okuyingxenye eyodwa kweziyizigidi eziyinkulungwane zemitha.a

Ukuze ubone ukuthi lesi silinganiso sincane kangakanani, ikhasi olifundayo njengamanje lingama-nanometer angu-100 000 kanti unwele lomuntu lungama-nanometer angu-80 000. Ingqamuzana elibomvu legazi licishe libe ama-nanometer angu-2 500 ububanzi. I-bacterium icishe ibe ama-nanometer angu-1 000 ubude, kanti i-virus ingama-nanometer angaba yikhulu. I-DNA yakho cishe ibe ama-nanometer angu-2,5 ububanzi.

Abasekeli balobu buchwepheshe bakholelwa ukuthi esikhathini esiseduze esizayo, ososayensi bazokwazi ukwakha izinto ezincane eziklanyelwe ukwenza imisebenzi yokwelapha ngaphakathi emzimbeni womuntu. La marobhothi amancane, ngokuvamile abizwa ngokuthi ama-nanomachine, ayoba nama-computer amancane aneziqondiso ezithile. Ngokumangalisayo, le mishini eyinkimbinkimbi izokwakhiwa inezingxenye ezincane ezingaphansi kwama-nanometer ayikhulu. Le mishini mincane ngokuphindwe izikhathi ezingu-25 kunengqamuzana elibomvu legazi!

Ngenxa yokuthi mincane kangako, kunethemba lokuthi ngelinye ilanga le mishini izokwazi ukuthubeleza emithanjeni emincane ihambise umoya-mpilo ezicutshini zomzimba ezingalitholi kahle igazi, isuse izinto ezenza ukuba igazi lingahambi kahle emithanjeni namagciwane ahlasela amangqamuzana obuchopho, ize ngisho izingele futhi ibulale ama-virus, ama-bacterium, nezinye izinto ezithwala izifo. Le mishini emincane ingasetshenziselwa nokuhambisa imithi ngokuqondile emangqamuzaneni athile.

Ososayensi babikezela ukuthi ukuhlonzwa komdlavuza kuzothuthuka kakhulu ngosizo lwama-nanomachine. UDkt. Samuel Wickline, onguprofesa wezemithi, isayensi yezinto zemvelo nobunjiniyela bezokwelapha, wathi: “Makhulu kunanini ngaphambili amathuba okusheshe sithole umdlavuza usaqala nokuwelapha ngemithi enamandla lapho utholakale khona nje kuphela, kuyilapho ngesikhathi esifanayo sinciphisa noma yikuphi okunye ukugula okungase kubangelwe ukwelashwa.”

Nakuba lokhu kungase kuzwakale kuyiphupho, ukwelapha ngale mishini emincane kuyinto yangempela ezingqondweni zososayensi. Abacwaningi abahamba phambili kulo mkhakha bathemba ukuthi eminyakeni eyishumi ezayo, i-nanotechnology iyosetshenziswa ekulungiseni nasekuhleleni kabusha amangqamuzana aphilayo. Omunye umsekeli walokhu uthi: “Ukwelapha nge-nanotechnology kuzosusa cishe zonke izifo ezivamile zekhulu lama-20, kususe cishe bonke ubuhlungu nokuhlukumezeka kokwelashwa, kuvumele nokweluleka kwesikhathi samakhono abantu.” Ngisho kwamanje ososayensi abathile babika impumelelo enkulu lapho kwelashwa izilwane nge-nanotechonology ezindaweni zokucwaninga.

◼ Ukufunda Ngezakhi Zofuzo Ukufunda ngokwakheka kwezakhi zofuzo kwaziwa ngokuthi i-genomics. Ingqamuzana ngalinye elisemzimbeni womuntu ligcwele izakhi ezibalulekile ekuphileni. Esinye sazo yisakhi sofuzo. Ngamunye wethu unezakhi zofuzo ezingaba ngu-35 000 ezinquma ukuthi izinwele ziyoba nombala onjani, zibe hlobo luni, ibala lesikhumba, umbala wamehlo, ubude, kanye nezinye izici zokubukeka komuntu ngamunye. Izakhi zethu zofuzo zifeza nendima ebalulekile ekwakhekeni kahle kwezitho zethu zangaphakathi.

Uma izakhi zofuzo zilimele, lokho kungabangela inkinga empilweni yethu. Eqinisweni, abanye abacwaningi bakholelwa ukuthi zonke izifo zibangelwa ukungasebenzi kahle kwezakhi zofuzo. Ezinye izakhi zofuzo ezinenkinga sizithola kubazali bethu. Ezinye zilinyazwa ukuchayeka ezintweni ezithile eziyingozi ezisizungezile.

Ososayensi bethemba ukuthi ngokushesha bazokwazi ukuthola izakhi zofuzo ezisifaka engozini yezifo. Ngokwesibonelo, lokhu kungenza ukuba odokotela baqonde ukuthi kungani abantu abathile bethambekele ekubeni nomdlavuza kunabanye noma ukuthi kungani uhlobo oluthile lomdlavuza lunamandla kakhulu kwabanye. Ukufunda ngezakhi zofuzo kungase kwembule nokuthi kungani uhlobo oluthile lomuthi lusebenza kahle kwezinye iziguli kunakwezinye.

Imininingwane enjena ngezakhi zofuzo ingase ivule nendlela yokwelashwa komuntu ngokwezidingo zakhe. Ungazuza kanjani kulobu buchwepheshe? Umqondo wokwelashwa ngokwezidingo zakho siqu usho ukwelashwa okuhambisana nezakhi zakho zofuzo. Ngokwesibonelo, uma ukucutshungulwa kwezakhi zakho zofuzo kwembula ukuthi ngokuhamba kwesikhathi ungase ube nesifo esithile, odokotela bangase babone leso sifo kusekude zingakaqali izimpawu zaso. Abashisekeli balokhu bathi ezimweni lapho isifo singakabi khona, ukwelashwa okufanele, ukudla okuthile, noshintsho ekuziphatheni kungasivimbela ngisho nokusivimbela leso sifo singaqali.

Izakhi zakho zofuzo zingasiza odokotela baqaphele ukuthi kungenzeka yini umzimba wakho uxabane nemithi ethile. Lokhu kwaziswa kungenza odokotela bakwazi ukukunikeza imithi yokwelapha enembile nesilinganiso esidingekayo esimweni sakho. Iphephandaba i-Boston Globe liyabika: “Ngo-2020, ithonya [lokwelapha umuntu ngokwezidingo zakhe] liyokwanda kakhulu ngendlela esingakaze siyicabange. Kuyothakwa imithi emisha yezakhi zofuzo yeqophelo eliphezulu yokwelapha izifo ezifana noshukela, isifo senhliziyo, i-Alzheimer, ukusangana, kanye nezinye izifo eziyinkinga kakhulu emphakathini wethu.”

Ubuchwepheshe okukhulunywa ngabo ngenhla bumane nje buyisibonelo salokho isayensi ethembisa ukukufeza esikhathini esizayo. Ulwazi lwezokwelapha luyaqhubeka lukhula ngendlela engakaze ibonwe ngaphambili. Kodwa ososayensi abalindele ukukuqeda ngokuphelele ukugula njengamanje. Kusenezithiyo eziningi ezibonakala zingenakunqotshwa.

Izithiyo Ezibonakala Zingenakunqotshwa

Ukuziphatha kwabantu kungenza ukuqedwa kwezifo kuhambe kancane. Ngokwesibonelo, ososayensi bakholelwa ukuthi ukulimaza komuntu izimiso ezithile zezinto eziphilayo kubangele izifo ezintsha futhi eziyingozi. Umongameli we-Wildlife Trust, uMary Pearl, washo okulandelayo lapho exoxa ne-Newsweek: “Kusukela maphakathi nawo-1970, kuye kwavela izifo ezintsha ezingaphezu kuka-30, kuhlanganise ingculaza, i-Ebola, isifo saseLyme ne-SARS. Iningi lalezi zifo kukholelwa ukuthi ziye zasuka ezilwaneni zasendle zadlulela kubantu.”

Ngaphezu kwalokho, abantu sebezidla kancane izithelo nemifino, bese beqinisa kakhulu kushukela, usawoti namafutha. Lokhu kanye nokungawuvivinyi ngokwanele umzimba neminye imikhuba engemihle kuye kwaphumela ekwandeni kwezifo zenhliziyo. Ukubhema ugwayi nakho kuyadlondlobala, kubangela izinkinga ezinkulu zempilo nokufa kwezigidi emhlabeni wonke. Unyaka ngamunye abantu abangaba yizigidi ezingu-20 balimala kabi noma bafe ezingozini zezimoto. Impi nezinye izinhlobo zobudlova kubulala futhi kukhubaze abantu abangenakubalwa. Izigidi ziyagula ngenxa yokusebenzisa kabi utshwala noma izidakamizwa.

Iqiniso liwukuthi kungakhathaliseki ukuthi iyini imbangela, naphezu kwentuthuko ekhona ebuchwephesheni bezokwelapha, ezinye izifo ziyaqhubeka zibangela ukuhlupheka okukhulu. Ngokwe-World Health Organization (WHO), ‘kunabantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-150 ababa nesifo sokucindezeleka nganoma yisiphi isikhathi, abayizigidi ezingu-25 bayasangana, kuthi abayizigidi ezingu-38 banesithuthwane.’ Isandulela-ngculaza nengculaza, izifo zohudo, umalaleveva, isimungumungwana, inyumoniya, nesifo sofuba ziphatha izigidi, zibulale inqwaba yezingane nabadala.

Kunezinye izithiyo ezibonakala zingenakunqotshwa ezivimba ukuqedwa kwezifo. Ukuhlupheka nohulumeni abakhohlakele kuyizithiyo ezimbili ezinkulu. Embikweni wamuva, i-WHO yathi izigidi ezibulawa izifo ezithathelwanayo zazingasindiswa ukube ohulumeni bebengahluleki futhi imali ikhona.

Ingabe ulwazi lwezesayensi nentuthuko esheshayo ebuchwephesheni bezokwelapha kuzosiza ekunqobeni lezi zithiyo? Ingabe ngokushesha sizobona umhlaba ongenakho ukugula? Kuyavunywa, izinto ezibalwe ngenhla azinikezi impendulo ecacile. Nokho iBhayibheli, liyawuphendula lo mbuzo. Isihloko esilandelayo sizochaza lokho okushiwo yiBhayibheli ngethemba lekusasa elingenakho ukugula.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Ibhokisi/Izithombe ekhasini 7]

Ukuthwebula izithombe nge-X ray

Izithombe ezicacile futhi ezinembile zomzimba womuntu zingase zisize ekuhlonzeni izifo lapho zisaqala

[Imithombo]

© Philips

Siemens AG

Ukuhlinza ngamarobhothi

Amarobhothi ahlonyiswe ngamathuluzi okuhlinza asiza odokotela abahlinzayo ukuba bakwazi ukuhlinza izindawo ezibucayi kalula

[Umthombo]

© 2006 Intuitive Surgical, Inc.

I-nanomedicine

Imishini emincane eyenziwe abantu ingase isize odokotela ukuba bakwazi ukwelapha izifo emangqamuzaneni. Lesi sithombe sibonisa umfanekiso womdwebi womshini omncane ozosebenza njengengqamuzana legazi elibomvu

[Imithombo]

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

Ukufunda ngezakhi zofuzo

Ngokufunda ngokwakheka kwezakhi zofuzo zomuntu ngamunye, ososayensi banethemba lokuthi bazokwazi ukuhlonza nokwelapha ukugula ngisho nangaphambi kokuba isiguli sibe nezimpawu zako

[Umthombo]

Chromosomes: © Phanie/ Photo Researchers, Inc.

[Ibhokisi ekhasini 8, 9]

Izitha Eziyisithupha Ezingakanqotshwa

Ulwazi lwezokwelapha kanye nobuchwepheshe obuhlobene nalo lukhula ngendlela engakaze ibonwe. Naphezu kwalokhu, ubhadane lwezifo ezithathelwanayo luyaqhubeka luhlasela umhlaba. Izifo ezibulalayo ezibalwe ngezansi azikanqotshwa.

Isandulela-ngculaza Nengculaza

Abantu abangaba izigidi ezingu-60 banesandulela-ngculaza, futhi cishe abayizigidi ezingu-20 baye babulawa yingculaza. Phakathi no-2005 kunabantu abayizigidi eziyisihlanu abathola leli gciwane kanti izigidi ezingaphezu kwezintathu zafa ngenxa yezifo ezihlobene nengculaza. Izisulu zazihlanganisa nezingane ezingaphezu kuka-500 000. Iningi labantu abayizisulu zesandulela-ngculaza alikutholi ukwelashwa okufanele.

Uhudo

Uhudo kuthiwa luwumbulali omkhulu wabantu abahluphekayo, futhi kunabantu abangaba yizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezine abaphathwa yilesi sifo njalo ngonyaka. Sibangelwa yizifo ezihlukahlukene ezingabhebhethekiswa amanzi noma ukudla okungcolile, noma ukungahlanzeki kwabantu ngokufanele. Ukugula okubangelwa yilesi sifo kubulala abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezimbili ngonyaka.

Umalaleveva

Minyaka yonke, abantu abangaba yizigidi ezingu-300 baphathwa umalaleveva. Ubulala abantu abangaba yisigidi njalo ngonyaka, iningi labo okungabantwana. E-Afrika kufa ingane eyodwa ibulawa umalaleveva njalo ngemizuzwana engu-30. Ngokwe-World Health Organization (WHO), “isayensi ayikalitholi ikhambi lokwelapha umalaleveva futhi abaningi bayangabaza ukuthi liyoke libe khona.”

Isimungumungwana

Phakathi no-2003, isimungumungwana sabulala abantu abangaphezu kuka-500 000. Sihamba phambili ekufeni kwezingane, futhi sithathelwana kakhulu. Njalo ngonyaka abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-30 baphathwa yisimungumungwana. Okumangalisayo ukuthi sekuyiminyaka engu-40 kunomuthi wokugoma oshibhile futhi osebenzayo.

Inyumoniya

I-WHO ithi asikho esinye isifo esithelelwanayo esibulala abantwana njengenyumoniya. Abantwana abangaphezu kwezigidi ezimbili abangaphansi kweminyaka emihlanu babulawa yinyumoniya njalo ngonyaka. Iningi labo lise-Afrika naseNingizimu-mpumalanga Asia. Ezingxenyeni eziningi zomhlaba, ukuntuleka kwezindawo zokwelashwa kwenza ukuba izisulu zingakutholi ukwelashwa okusindisa ukuphila.

Isifo Sofuba

Phakathi no-2003, isifo sofuba (i-TB) sabulala abantu abangaphezu kuka-1 700 000. Okukhathaza kakhulu abezempilo ukuvela kwamagciwane anenkani abangela isifo sofuba. Kunamagciwane ahlula yonke imithi yokwelapha isifo sofuba. La magciwane avela ngenxa yeziguli ezinganakekelwa kahle noma ezingelashwa ngokuphelele.

[Ibhokisi/Isithombe ekhasini 9]

Ziyanda Ezinye Izindlela Zokwelapha

Kunezindlela eziningi zokwelapha ngokuvamile ezingamukeleki kodokotela abavamile. Ngokuvamile lezi zaziwa ngokuthi imithi yesintu noma imithi yolunye uhlobo. Emazweni asathuthuka, iningi labantu lithembela emithini yesintu ekwelapheni izinkinga zalo zempilo. Ezindaweni zabantu abahluphekayo iningi alinayo imali yokukhokhela imithi yodokotela, kuyilapho abanye bakhetha nje izindlela zesintu.

Ezinye izindlela zokwelapha ziyachuma nasemazweni acebile. Phakathi kwezinye izindlela zokwelapha ezichumayo kubalwa ukutshopa, ukuqondiswa kwamathambo, i-homeopathy, i-naturopathy, kanye namakhambi. Ezinye zalezi zindlela ziye zahlolwa ngokwesayensi kwatholakala ukuthi ziwusizo ezimweni ezithile. Nokho, akukatholakali kahle ukuthi izindlela ezithile zokwelapha ziyasebenza yini. Ukuthandwa kwezindlela ezihlukile zokwelapha kuye kwabangela ukungabaza mayelana nokuphepha kwazo. Emazweni amaningi ukwelapha ngalezi zindlela akunaziqondiso. Lokhu kudala izimo lapho ukuzelapha okuyingozi, imithi engasebenzi kanye nodokotela abanobuqili kwanda khona. Nakuba izinhloso zizinhle, abangane nezihlobo ezingaqeqeshiwe kahle ngokuvamile bazenza odokotela. Konke lokhu kuye kwaba nemiphumela eyingozi nezinye izinkinga empilweni.

Emazweni amaningi lapho kunemithetho emisiwe, ezinye izindlela zokwelapha ziya ngokuya zamukeleka kodokotela besimanje futhi sebeyazisebenzisa. Nakuba kunjalo, kubonakala singekho isiqinisekiso sokuthi izindlela ezinjalo ziyoke ziqede ukugula emhlabeni.