Izindlela Zokuphila Eziyingozi—Zibangela Izindleko Ezingakanani?

“UKUGULA kuyinkosi yabo bonke abantu,” kusho isaga saseDenmark. Noma ubani onesifo esingamahlalakhona angakufakazela ukuthi ‘lenkosi’ ingaba nonya ngempela! Nokho, ungase umangale ukuzwa ukuthi ukugula ngokuvamile kuyamenywa kunokuba kube inkosi. I-U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ithi izinsuku ezingamaphesenti angu-30 abagulayo abazichitha esibhedlela kungenxa yezifo nokulimala obekungagwenywa. Iyini imbangela? Izindlela zokuphila ezingenampilo neziyingozi. Cabangela ezinye izibonelo.

UKUBHEMA. U-Ira, oneminyaka engu-53 ubudala, une-emphysema—umphumela weminyaka engaba amashumi amane ebhema. Ukuze kwelashwe isifo sakhe, kudingeka njalo athole umoya-mpilo osesigujini, obiza amaRandi angaba ngu-1870 ngenyanga. Ngo-1994 ukulaliswa kwakhe esibhedlela izinsuku ezingu-9 kwabiza imali engu-R84 000, okwenza izindleko zokunakekela impilo ka-Ira ngalowo nyaka zaba ngaphezu kuka-R93 500. Noma kunjalo, u-Ira akakuboni ukuphuthuma kokuba ayeke ukubhema. Uthi: “Ayikholeki indlela engiqalekela ngayo ugwayi.”

Isimo sika-Ira asiyona ingqayizivele. Naphezu kwezingozi ezaziwayo zokubhema, abantu emhlabeni wonke babhema osikilidi abangaba izigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-15 ngosuku. E-United States, izindleko zempilo zaminyaka yonke zezifo ezihlobene nokubhema zilinganiselwa kuma-dollar ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-50 (amaRandi ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-234). Lokhu kusho ukuthi ngo-1993, kwachithwa isilinganiso sama-dollar angu-2,06 (R9,62) kwezokwelapha ngalelo nalelo phakethe likagwayi elathengwa.

Lapho umntwana ezalwa, izindleko zezokwelapha ezihlobene nokubhema zingaqala ukunqwabelana. Ngokwesibonelo nje, ukuhlola okuthile e-United States kwathola ukuthi izinsana ezazalwa omama ababhemayo zisengozini ephindwe kabili yokuba nezindebe noma ulwanga olunomfantu, isifo esingadinga ukuba zibe sezihlinzwe kane lapho zihlanganisa iminyaka emibili ubudala. Izindleko zezokwelapha zokuphila konke nezindleko ezihlobene nazo zalesi sifo zilinganiselwa ku-$100 000 (R467 000) umuntu ngamunye. Yiqiniso, ayikho imali engalingana nokucindezeleka okungokomzwelo kokuzalwa ukhubazekile emzimbeni.

Abanye bathi izindleko eziphakeme zezempilo zokubhema zinqandwa iqiniso lokuthi abantu abaningi ababhemayo abaphili isikhathi eside ngokwanele ukuba bathole izinzuzo ze-Social Security. Nokho, njengoba kuphawula i-New England Journal of Medicine, “lesi siphetho siyimpikiswano; ngaphezu kwalokho, abaningi bangavuma ukuthi ukufa ngaphambi kwesikhathi ngenxa yokubhema akuyona indlela enobuntu yokulawula izindleko zokunakekelwa kwempilo.”

UKUSEBENZISA KABI UTSHWALA. Ukusebenzisa kabi utshwala kuye kwahlotshaniswa nezinkinga eziningi ezingokwempilo, kuhlanganise nokuqina kwesibindi, isifo senhliziyo, ukudleka kolwelwesi lwesisu, izilonda nokudleka kwamanyikwe (pancreatitis). Kungenza ukuba umuntu achayeke ezifweni ezithathelwanayo njenge-pneumonia. NgokukaDkt. Stanton Peele, unyaka ngamunye e-United States “kuchithwa ama-dollar ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyishumi [amaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-46 700] kwelashwa abantu abahlulwa utshwala.”

Ngokuvamile utshwala bulimaza umbungu esibelethweni. Unyaka ngamunye amashumi ezinkulungwane zabantwana e-United States kuphela azalwa ekhubazekile ngenxa yokuthi onina babephuza lapho bekhulelwe. Ezinye zalezi zinsana kuthiwa zinesifo sotshwala semibungu (FAS [fetal alcohol syndrome]), futhi ngokuvamile zikhubazekile emzimbeni nasengqondweni. Izindleko zezokwelapha zokuphila konke zomntwana ngamunye one-FAS zilinganiselwa kuma-dollar ayizigidi ezingu-1,4 (amaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-6,5).

Njengoba utshwala bunciphisa ikhono lokulawula imizwelo, ukuphuza ngokweqile kuvame ukuba nengxenye ekuqubukeni kobudlova, okungabangela ukulimala okudinga ukwelashwa. Kukhona nokulimala okukhulu okubangelwa yilabo abashayela bedakiwe. Cabangela umphumela lokhu okwaba nawo kuLindsey, intombazane eneminyaka engu-8 ubudala okwadingeka ukuba ikhishwe ngezindlawu esihlalweni esingemuva semoto kanina ngemva kokuba beshayisene nomshayeli owayedakiwe. ULindsey wachitha amasonto angu-7 esibhedlela futhi kwadingeka ukuba ahlinzwe kaningana. Izindleko zokwelashwa kwakhe zaba ngaphezu kuka-R1401 000. Wasinda ngenhlanhla.

UKUSEBENZISA KABI IZIDAKAMIZWA. Omunye umcwaningi ulinganisela ukuthi izindleko zaminyaka yonke zokusebenzisa kabi izidakamizwa eMelika zingama-dollar ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-67 (amaRandi ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-313). UJoseph A. Califano, Jr., umongameli we-Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse eColumbia University, eNew York, uveza esinye isici esibizayo salenkinga: “Izinsana ezizalwa abantu ababhema i-crack, okwakuyinto eyivelakancane eminyakeni eyishumi edlule, zigcwele emagumbini okunakekela abasanda kuzalwa abiza ama-dollar angu-2000 [R9340] ngosuku. . . . Kungabiza ama-dollar ayisigidi [amaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-4,67] ukusindisa ngalunye lwalezi zinsana luze lukhule.” UCalifano uphawula ukuthi ngaphezu kwalokho, “ukuhluleka komama abakhulelwe ukufuna ukunakekelwa kwangaphambi kokubeletha futhi bayeke ukusebenzisa kabi izidakamizwa kwadla ingxenye enkulu yama-dollar ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezintathu [amaRandi ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-14] achithwa i-Medicaid ngo-1994 ezigulini ezalaliswa esibhedlela ngenxa yezinkinga ezihlobene nokusebenzisa izidakamizwa.”

Inhlekelele yalesi simo iba nkulu uma sicabangela umonakalo omkhulu lesi simo esiwubangelayo kubantu. Izingxabano emshadweni, abantwana abashiywe dengwane nokuphelelwa imali kuphakathi kwezinkinga ezivamile ezithinta imikhaya ephazanyiswe ukusebenzisa kabi izidakamizwa.

UKUZIPHATHA OKUXEKETHILE. Abantu abangaphezu kwezigidi ezingu-12 e-United States bangenwa izifo ezithathelwana ngobulili (STD [sexually transmitted diseases]) unyaka ngamunye, okwenza i-United States ibe nezinga eliphakeme kakhulu lama-STD emazweni asethuthukile. UDavid Celentano waseJohns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, uthi lokhu “kuyihlazo lesizwe sonke.” Izindleko eziqondile zalezi zifo, ngaphandle kwengculaza, zingama-dollar angaba yizigidi eziyizinkulungwane eziyishumi (amaRandi ayizigidi ezingu-46 700) ngonyaka. Intsha isengozini kakhulu. Futhi akumangalisi! Ngokomunye umbiko, lapho ifinyelela ebangeni leshumi esikoleni, intsha engamaphesenti angu-70 isuke isiye yahlanganyela ebuhlotsheni bobulili futhi engaba ngamaphesenti angu-40 kuyo isuke isilale okungenani nabantu abane.

Ingculaza ngokwayo iyinhlekelele kwezempilo. Ekuqaleni kuka-1996 indlela yokwelapha ephumelela kunazo zonke ezikhona—imithi enqanda ama-protease ehlanganiswe nemithi yokwelapha evamile yangaphambili—yayibiza imali ephakathi kuka-R56 000 no-R84 000 ngonyaka umuntu ngamunye. Kodwa lokhu kuyingxenyana encane yezindleko zengculaza ezifihlekile, okuhlanganisa ukwehla komsebenzi wesisulu kanye nalabo abangayi emsebenzini noma esikoleni ukuze basinakekele. Kulinganiselwa ukuthi ngonyaka ka-2000, i-HIV nengculaza kuyobe sekudle imali ephakathi kwamaRandi ayizigidi zezigidi ezingu-1,66 nezingu-2,4 emhlabeni wonke—okulingana nokugumbuqela wonke umnotho wase-Australia noma waseNdiya.

UBUDLOVA. Lapho esengudokotela omkhulu ohlinzayo e-United States, uJoycelyn Elders wabika ukuthi izindleko zokwelapha eziphathelene nobudlova zazingama-dollar ayizigidi ezingu-13 500 (amaRandi ayizigidi eziyizinkulungwane ezingu-63) ngo-1992. UMongameli wase-United States uBill Clinton waphawula: “Esinye sezizathu zokuthi kungani ukunakekelwa kwezempilo eMelika kubiza kangaka siwukuthi izibhedlela zethu nezikhungo zethu zezimo eziphuthumayo zigcwele abantu abagwaziwe nabadutshuliwe.” Ngesizathu esizwakalayo i-Journal of the American Medical Association ibiza ubudlova base-United States ngokuthi “isimo esiphuthumayo sezempilo yomphakathi.” Lombiko uyaqhubeka: “Nakuba ubudlova bungesona isifo ngomqondo ‘osobala,’ umphumela wabo empilweni yabantu neyomphakathi mkhulu njengomphumela wezifo eziningi ezingokomzimba—futhi mhlawumbe mkhulu nakakhulu.”

Umbiko wezibhedlela ezingu-40 eColorado uthi ngokwesilinganiso izindleko zesisulu ngasinye sobudlova phakathi nezinyanga zokuqala ezingu-9 ngo-1993 zazingama-dollar angu-9600 (R44 850). Abangaphezu kwengxenye kulabo abalaliswa esibhedlela babengenawo umshuwalense, futhi iningi labo lalingakwazi noma lalingazimisele ukukhokha izindleko zalo. Izimo ezinjalo zibangela ukwenyuka kwezintela, imali yomshuwalense nezindleko zasezibhedlela. I-Colorado Hospital Association iyabika: “Sonke siyakhokha.”

Ukushintsha Indlela Yokuphila

Ngokombono wabantu, lifiphele ithemba lokuguqula ukuthambekela ezindleleni zokuphila eziyingozi. “IMelika ayiyona iNsimu Yase-Edene futhi ngeke sikuqede konke ukuluthwa kwethu izinto ezithile,” kusho umbiko weColumbia University. “Kodwa uma senza konke ukuze sinqande ukusetshenziswa kabi kwezinto ezinjalo, siyothola umvuzo omkhulu wabantwana abaphilile, ukuncipha kobudlova nobugebengu, izintela eziphansi, izindleko zezempilo eziphansi, izinzuzo eziphakeme, abafundi abanemfundo engcono nabantu abambalwa abanengculaza.”

OFakazi BakaJehova baye bathola ukuthi iBhayibheli liwusizo olukhulu ekufinyeleleni lowo mgomo. IBhayibheli aliyona incwadi evamile. Liphefumulelwe uMdali womuntu, uJehova uNkulunkulu. (2 Thimothewu 3:16, 17) Nguyena ‘osifundisile okusisizayo, osiholile ngendlela okumelwe sihambe ngayo.’ (Isaya 48:17) Izimiso eziseBhayibhelini zinempilo, futhi labo abahamba eselulekweni salo bathola izinzuzo ezinkulu.

Ngokwesibonelo, u-Esther wayeyixhwele likagwayi.a Ngemva kokuqala ukufunda iBhayibheli noFakazi BakaJehova, owayemfundela iBhayibheli wammema ukuba achithe usuku eyovakashela endlunkulu yomhlaba wonke yoFakazi BakaJehova, eBrooklyn, eNew York. Ekuqaleni, u-Esther wayenqikaza. Njengoba ayazi ukuthi oFakazi BakaJehova ababhemi, wazibuza ukuthi wayengaluchitha kanjani usuku lonke enabo. Ngakho u-Esther wafaka ugwayi owodwa esikhwameni sakhe, ezitshela ukuthi uma eqalekela ukubhema, wayezomane angene endlini yangasese. Njengoba ayehlelile, ngemva kokubona indawo, u-Esther waya endlini yangasese yabesifazane wakhipha ugwayi wakhe. Kodwa-ke waqaphela okuthile. Leli gumbi lalihlanzekile, futhi nomoya wawuhlanzekile. “Ngangingeke ngiyingcolise lendawo ngokubhema ugwayi,” kukhumbula u-Esther, “ngakho ngawufaka endlini encane ngadonsa amanzi. Futhi ngagcina ngalolo suku ukuthinta ugwayi!”

Emhlabeni wonke, abayizigidi abanjengo-Esther bafunda ukuphila ngokuvumelana nezimiso zeBhayibheli. Bayazizuzisa, futhi baba igugu ngempela emiphakathini abahlala kuyo. Okubaluleke kakhulu, baletha udumo kuMdali wabo, uJehova uNkulunkulu.—Qhathanisa nezAga 27:11.

Nakuba imizamo yomuntu yamandla onke ingenakuveza “iNsimu Yase-Edene,” iBhayibheli lithi uNkulunkulu uyokwenza kanjalo. Eyesi-2 Petru 3:13 ithi: “Kukhona amazulu amasha nomhlaba omusha esikulindele ngokwesithembiso sakhe [uNkulunkulu], futhi kukho kuyohlala ukulunga.” (Qhathanisa no-Isaya 51:3.) Kulowo mhlaba omusha, ukunakekela impilo ngeke kusabangela ukukhathazeka, ngoba isintu siyojabulela impilo yobungqabavu—ngendlela uNkulunkulu ayehlose ngayo kwasekuqaleni. (Isaya 33:24) Ungathanda yini ukufunda okwengeziwe ngezithembiso zikaNkulunkulu? OFakazi BakaJehova bangakujabulela ukukusiza.

[Umbhalo waphansi]

[Umthombo Wesithombe ekhasini 26]

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