Zawaya

Maghreb countries should first address other causes of mortality and bad life

By: Baya Gacemi

Debates on the risks of the pandemic influenza A (i.e. swine flu) due to the spread of the H1N1 virus have reached the Maghreb countries.

The Maghreb people are now well informed on global happenings thanks to satellite channels, and follow the Westerners’ example on everything.

Except that this time, it is the rulers, not the people, who have adopted this issue, thinking that they would convince the latter that the governments care about the health of their populations. As national opinions are never consulted, and no serious debate was held, real decisions might be taken with utmost haste and opacity. With 160 swine flu cases in Morocco, 47 in Algeria, and a few rare ones in other countries, is there genuine cause for concern at all?

If this was really the case, the real matters of concern regarding health and health care are many in these countries. Except for Tunisia where the level of health care is relatively good, other countries still witness deaths caused by the lack of health care or medical neglect. Even in Algeria, where the policy of “free health care” had came to fruition a few years ago, the regression is now visible (decrease of vaccination, recurrence of eradicated diseases such as tuberculosis and even plague).

From a strictly health-focused perspective, the five Maghreb countries have announced the importation of millions of doses of vaccines, thus offering Western laboratories the opportunity to step into the breach of commercial medical business without the slightest proof on the effectiveness of these vaccines, and also giving drug lobbies the opportunity to take over a lucrative market, as is the case in Algeria. Actually, after the announcement’s effects, it seems that very few doses of the vaccine have been really received.

While Maghreb experts have met to compare their experiences in the field, governments have responded to this issue each according to their habits. Therefore, on the pilgrimage issue, Tunisia, always prompt in restricting the freedoms of its citizens, has immediately banned the “Umrah”, without daring, however, to extend the ban to the great Hajj.

As for other countries, they have only called their peoples to vigilance out of fear to titillate their local Islamists. This proves that dealing with this disease follows criteria that are primarily political.