Your health has been under attack since September or so, of this year. How are you coping? Physically, Spiritually and Psychologically that is... no pity parties. Believe it or not, you fight illnesses with your mind as much as you do with your body. Everyone everywhere has an idea of what the causes of these ailments are.
It’s apocalyptic for some, the end of the world, for others it’s human kind creating war on themselves, for many “A cyaa mosquito do dat!” and the conspiracy theorists meet and discuss their take on the outbreak of disease. On every street corner, in every office, around every school campus-the kids are talking current affairs, not to mention tuning in to the 7 o’ clock news. At first it was Chikungunya and as it still plagues our little rock we wait with unease, careful to dodge the sneezes of the U.S (we know how that goes)
Like a stubborn sneeze E-e-e-e-Ebola is on our minds, us trying to hold back as any eruption could rock us into a place of serious pain and convulsive shock of the “nervous system”. Many are nervous about the potential of this disease.
I’m sure we, as a nation, are praying to be speared from this disease and any other diseases of its kind.
One Panadol! One Panadol! (x2) Mosquito one, mosquito two, mosquito bite me mosquito bite you! is one of the tunes of the mosquito spread virus in Jamaica by the young, up and coming artiste Wayne J .While a number of Jamaican artistes are finding productivity in the outbreak of the Chikungunya virus by making songs poking fun at or informing the public about the virus, many other sectors of the work force are being combated by high levels of employee absenteeism. Employees are feeling the bite, a pinch to their pockets as they lose worker productivity. This attack on productivity by the virus has gotten the attention of The Jamaica Employers’ Federation (JEF).
The JEF expresses its concern about the threat to productivity on the island stemmed from an increase in the number of suspected cases of the Chikungunya virus. The JEF’s immediate past president Wayne Chen said the private sector is aware of an increase in employee absenteeism and the impact of the virus on the work force and the ripple effect on the economy could be significant. However, there is hope as the authorities work fervently to ensure that the outbreak does not attain epidemic status.
President of Jamaica Employers’ Federation – Wayne Chen
A detailed analysis of the impact that the Chikungunya virus is having on Jamaica’s productive sector is being conducted. David Wan, President of the Federation, has stated that the initial responses to a Chik-V survey being conducted, from five per cent of its 400 members; a clear indication that productivity is being affected.
"Approximately 90 per cent of that five per cent that responded say that they've noticed an uptick in absences and sick-leave for flu-like symptoms," he said.
Wayne Chen- President of Jamaica's Employer Federation
Employers are being asked to empathize with employees in the wake of the truly crippling disease that renders its victims helpless to high fever, excruciating joint pain mainly in the hands, wrists, muscle pain and ankles and a rash. The Health Ministry states that even though the virus does not often result in death children and the elderly are at risk of more severe symptoms.
The Health Ministry anticipates that this debilitating virus is likely to take its own “sick leave” in six to twelve months. Until then keep safe with mosquito repellents containing Deet, remove water from old tires bottles and cans around your house or workplace and close windows and doors in the evenings!
