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Palaces for the ‘servants of the people,’ slums for the people
Radio Pointaht earlier this year broadcast programmes aimed at helping fight tuberculosis (TB). Officially Uzbekistan is tackling this problem effectively. One hears such slogans as ‘Wash your hands before eating’ or ‘It's better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick.’
Vladimir Petrov
2009-10-15
Radio Pointaht earlier this year broadcast programmes aimed at helping fight tuberculosis (TB). Officially Uzbekistan is tackling this problem effectively. One hears such slogans as ‘Wash your hands before eating’ or ‘It's better to be rich and healthy than poor and sick.’
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Submitted by our Reader
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Submitted by our Reader
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Submitted by our Reader
Please take a look at the photos of a once famous tuberculosis treatment centre “Red October” in Tashkent. It provided TB treatment until Uzbekistan gained its independence, and what is left of it still does. The centre is now under the 2nd Hospital.
Substantial funds are allocated to combat this disease around the world. But what about us? How are we tackling the problem? This year already meagre financing for TB treatment was cut due to the 2200th anniversary of Tashkent. So far only 22 percent of the amount allocated has been released to combat the disease.
There is greed and penny-pinching on everything, ranging from top priority items such as drugs and food, which in and of themselves, of course, do not constitute comprehensive treatment of the disease, to electricity (power is cut at 8 pm, and there’s not even a light bulb in the lavoratories). But the problem cannot be blamed on expenses for the 2200th anniversary of Tashkent alone. The process of dilapidation has been going on for about 20 years.
In most cases, patients now have to buy their own drugs, but not all can afford to do so. Let's not forget that officially the treatment of TB is free. Patients who have not been treated adequately or who have not completed their treatment, however, evolve into chronic sufferers. Consequently, later on drugs fail because patients develop resistance to them and their cases become more difficult to treat thereafter.
In Soviet times, the buildings in the photos were overflowing with patients. Where are they now? With a large number of prisoners and ex-convicts and migrant workers in our free Uzbekistan, and with working conditions excellent for TB infection, the number of TB cases has probably increased and a number of TB sufferers live among us, unintentionally spreading the infection rather than being treated properly.
The government has found a quick-fix solution. It has abolished routine fluorography medical examination aimed at early detection of TB, now patients must [pay for] fluorography and all other needed examinations. TB dispensaries now have the instructions to not report cases and to accept patients only when they show obvious symptoms such as bloody sputum, or sputum positive for Koch bacillus.
Given the approach currently taken towards this problem by the government, I believe the result will be genocide of people in Uzbekistan. TB is a social disease that spreads in prisons and slums, and the poor, who represent the majority of the population in Uzbekistan, are the most vulnerable and at higher risk of becoming infected.
Let us turn to the doctors, nurses and other care-givers of the 2nd Hospital. The government has clearly abandoned its people, and the photo shows its policy towards public health.
The staff of the hospital, whose salaries are very low, do the best they can. Chief doctors try to maintain and repair at their own expense the buildings they are in charge of. At 6:00am the wards and compound are swept and mopped. The staff mops the wards five to six times a day. If the hospital has enough drugs supplies and the necessary equipment, patients receive all injections and manipulations strictly as prescribed. But that is rarely the case.
Have authorities chosen to ignore the consequences of inadequate tuberculosis treatment in the country? We have the necessary health professionals and compounds. What lacks is government commitment to provide the resources necessary to combat the problem completely.
I would like to stress that this is vital to the health of our nation. TB is a public health problem that should be a political priority.
I have also sent this message to the President of Uzbekistan, the Ministry of Health and other appropriate institutions in anticipation of the 2200th Anniversary of Tashkent, since the above hospital is also part of Tashkent.
This is to remind our leaders that constructing palaces for the ‘servants of the people’ should not be their only priority – people whom they serve need hospitals, treatment centres, schools, playgrounds for children and other social infrastructure.
Or perhaps one hand does not know what the other is doing?
Only three or four of 11 TB buildings are functioning well. The rest are in a heavily dilapidated condition, but continued to be used as well.
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Reader Comments
Everybody has to go to grave . In grave and on day of judgement no Mullah or Ayatollah will come to our help. One has to face situation himself. Every body will be asked for his own deeds. So take care of yourself and stop worrying for others. God respects and stands with truth. It says LAANAT upon liers. Tabligis have ruined Islam. It is the most dangerous group which has created hate against Islam. After all why only Tablighis are caught in explosion world over.Jammat Islami. AlQaida and Hizbuttahrir are the biggest terrorist irganisations. Their followers should think what islam they are preaching !
Bismillah Attention my friend investigate and asked and see with your eyes that there is very dangerous people around us in the clothes of Islam called Tableeghi Jumaat every time the name of Allah and Rasool but actual they are not follow them wel.They struggle on only six nos,which is not Quraan and Hadees or not in Islam any where. actual six nos in Christine book name is Holly Book you can see it Church.Inthis Holly Book ok Christian the Aamaal Chepter six nos. They make us and put in the ever MOSQUE and they discurrege Quraan and Hadeese Bukhari Shareef. Tableeghi Jumaat not hard work and struggle on these two necessary books see asked discussion investigate and everday in your conversation with each other and explainto another people and in your own home office college school hospital and commercial bussiness area, If you want examin them you aske them Fazail Aamaal book is good or Bukhari Shareef book which is better of these two books/ they will say Hadees Bukhari Shareef. Then why you donn,t studdy in the Mosque as a fot Taleem every day in the Mosque. Be careful they will never Taleem in the Mosque,These Tableeghi Jumaat in 2005 15000 Thableeghi ,in cloth of muslim but actual they were hindu commando and enter in Swat and then apper in Taaliban Shape and spred all ovew the SWwat and start explosion and susie attack with great plane India Pakistan Afghanistan Iran China an USA with Izraeel help, now The Tableeghi Jumaat are very dangerous people in the World. Don/t set with them if you four months with they will be hepnatise your mind with manny time magic talking. Then you will be not in Deen or Dunia they make you nakara Muslim very week Muslim in the World. If you want more explanation you can contact me in these pages as im writing and talking to you.
There are certainly problems, but any country has them, especially in healthcare. Do you think everything is perfect in Russia? Try to receive medical treatment in Russia, the prices there are not as low as in Uzbekistan, one has to sell the house to receive medical treatment. We must stay positive. Uzbekistan enjoys peace, people are protected from burglary, vandalism and other crimes related to an individual's security. Little children go and from school without their parents, you will not find it anywhere in the world. Affordable prices on food, affordable housing. I have been working in Uzbekistan for nearly 3 years now, I felt very comfortable here thanks to the leadership of that country and the talented and hospitable people of Uzbekistan. There are difficulties everywhere. I wish peace, health and happiness to your families, patience and diligence, which you have more than enough. Pavel
Lies are spread everywhere in Uzbekistan and nothing will change for the people. Genocide is being committed against the people, and everyone encourages it for money and profit. Only the introduction of the death penalty could help as well as tougher laws, better law enforcement, the elimination of corrupt organizations through the use of the death penalty and property forfeiture. It is necessary to seize private palaces and give them to the people, victims and the poor.
That's how we choose servants of the people. They live a happy and abundant life, look down on people, but one thing comforts us is that we will all die. We lead a correct life with respect to our universe, while they are not and they will be rewarded in full for it, what else can I say? Fire everyone, hire clever and decent leaders to handle matters for the sole benefit of the people!
We have quickly forgotten about friendship, brotherhood, mutual assistance and most importantly, we have forgotten that it is easier to destroy people one by one, which is in fact being done.
We have been advised to get vaccinated against hepatitis A because the eldest child had this disease in the beginning of the year. Do you know how much it costs? 200,000 sums. Multiply by 2 children - 400,000 sums. After six months we need another vaccination - additional 400,000 sums. People earn $100-200 a month. And how should we survive? (Incidentally, a similar vaccine costs half the price in Russia). Hepatitis A is not on the list of mandatory vaccines.
I was there with my son in December. The situation was terrible. But doctors are really good, honest and offer you free advice. God give them health.
Why does the health minister oversee this, is he busy making money? Where are we going?
My God!!! What happened with our once prosperous sanatorium??? I am shocked! I did my first internship there after finishing Borovsky Medical School in 1989. Such good and nice people worked there! The staff was very friendly! They fed the patients well and treated them and almost all of the medicines were available. People would live there for six months and get better! I really sympathise with the citizens who are in need of professional help from phthisiotherapists.
There was a story in the 10th class . In that story there were three kings and three judges for the decision to whom kingdom is the best one. First they visit a kingdom there were very beautiful buildings all over the kingdom but people of the kingdom were poor and unhappy with there King.Then they visit the second one they find that the roads were decorated with flowers plants and roads were clean and well furnished but people of the kingdom were poor and unhappy with there King. At Last they visited the last kingdom they saw the people of the kingdom were throwing the flowers on their King and cheering up with joys because the King solved the problems of the people and made them prosperous. The Kingdom was not so beautiful with buildings and roads but with people. So as we see that every President of history of Pakistan have yet not work for the people but only for themselves. All the problems will solved if a sincere one come on. Why it so happens because we do not obey Allah\'s roles. So if we obey then there will be no difference between a poor man and a president and so on. But we think that it is impossible. When we want a wrong deed we can easily. Why? Because we do not want to do right.If we have problems we should give the charge to them who says to do it. Suggestions are very simple and possible to do. Every role of Islam is for this world not for another one.
I hope that others will write in such a clear way and bring to the attention of the world just what sort of a country and government the West is supporting to justify keeping on good terms with Dictator/Oligarch Karimov.
It is good effort of author. It is duty of every government to facilitate their peoples in health and poverty. New hospitals should be launched and a huge ammount of funds must be allocated for this purpose.
Bad rulers just like irresponsible parents with many children leave all things unattended. They do not care about the nation's (descendants') health, and their based on nature philosophy is simple, "the one who wants and can, will survive under any conditions." This is, probably, a way to solve the overpopulation problem in a a specific country. Tribes living in Amazon jungles do not even think about basic health care guaranteed by the state and take care of themselves (mortality is probably higher there than in Uzbekistan). Probably, it will not be until the ministers of health, finance and other sectors who adopt budgets and make decisions on financing social programs fall sick with severe tuberculosis and feel a threat to their life that they will pay proper attention to TB prevention and treatment.
It is the same situation in all spheres of life! I'll think about it and try to write in the same persuasive way about the sphere of life that I know of and where the situation is the same, or even worse.