CHIK-V is becoming more divisive every day. It is no longer just a matter of mosquito vs humans. It is another outpouring of how little we respect each other. The disease is rampant in other areas of the Caribbean but, so far, I haven’t seen any reports that it is the subject of political friction and doubt. What is wrong with us, eeh? Yes, we can have different opinions.

Yesterday (Thursday), while working on RJR’s Hotline, I stumbled upon the disbelief of many people who were prepared to discuss their deep doubts they have about the disease, the treatment and national leadership. As people began pouring out stories of their un-belief yesterday, some of what I heard was astounding.

The one which staggered me the most laid the blame of chik-V on the plane which had crashed into the sea, off the Port Antonio coastline some weeks ago, and of which we had heard little or nothing up to now. According to my informant, it polluted the area with “something” and brought down sickness on the people. “Seh wha?” “Oh yes, it is true”, the caller insisted. He believed nothing else. Why would the plane do that? What was it carrying? He wasn’t prepared to have his unique knowledge questioned, but he was dead sure. The plane was the enemy. Whatever it carried made us sick, not no ‘chicken-something’.

Several others were convinced that mosquitoes have nothing to do with chik-V. The disease is airborne. Huh? asked I. To their knowledge, the air enters the body, I was told, having morphed into something toxic. The caller said it brought severe pain which he was feeling. No, he hadn’t gone to the doctor…Doctor could do nothing.

When challenged that anything to do with the air would affect breathing, especially difficulty in areas like the chest, lungs, etc, afflicted ones refused to abandon their remarkable science-fiction theory and its impact on human life. Why wasn’t it more widely known? Well, ahmm…yuh nuh.

The “dangerous air” theory came into the conversation over and over again. People continue to tell of alarming symptoms coming from “the air”. One lady related how her sister came off the bus all right only to be hit by “a dangerous air”, which slammed her with severe pains.

Some questioned the information from the Ministry of Health. Not true, said one man. According to another man, the ministry was withholding the facts. Why? Tourism…why? To avoid frightening the tourist trade. That’s why we’re not getting the truth. He would not be persuaded otherwise. There were other versions. Some people recounted a variety of doubts as proof that the doctors don’t know what they are about. Some outright rejected the involvement of mosquitoes. What is going on now cannot come from a mere mosquito, some said. But? But nothing.

The ministry has been carrying out information programmes to which various arms of the media have been contributing. Print, radio, TV are all giving assistance in highlighting the habits of the Aedes aegypti, the now controversial mosquito whichis being questioned. Some people are determined to resist knowledge of the mosquito and anything else for reasons known only to them. They have their own theories and are stubborn about change. “Belief kill and belief cure,” the ancients used

to say.

It should be interesting, though, how much the Ministry of Health knows about the extent of public disbelief. It is hard to imagine how, in a time where health education is easily accessed, we can still demonstrate a choice of “duppy stories”. The conflicting views yesterday was reflected heaviest when it came to medical treatment. Many people said they had not sought medical treatment when they fell ill because they could take care of the problem themselves.

One or two expressed doubt about the formula of rest, lots of liquids and cold tablets — that can’t do nutten. A few recommendations were made of bush remedies; bissy tea was number one. Bissy is our name for kola nut, well known in West Africa. Some were not that enthused by the popular fever treatment from the pharmacy. They wanted something stronger to match the pain they

were feeling.

As strange as some of the ideas which were presented, it would do the ministry well to take them seriously or the return to sanity could be a long journey.

The political “trow-wud” which is occurring might be entertaining for now, but consider that sickness hardly ever brings gain, whether the contenders believe it or not. If there are views which need expressing, it is good they are being heard. If it wanders into the realm of spite and ill will, it might be good to remember ancestral wisdom. “Sickness nuh fraid fi nobody” and, “Belief kill and belief cure”.

How long is a long skirt?

The edict of a number of high schools has brought young women out in the public, hobbling along in grotesque bags which are supposed to pass as skirts, lengthened to restore modesty. They are the result of the indiscipline to be found in too many high schools, where boys stand accused of immoral behaviour, eg looking up skirts on staircases.

There is no place for inappropriate behaviour, but there is a difference between modesty and mockery. The teachers of the schools who have imprisoned their young women in Queen Victoria’s cast-offs must feel very proud of their skirt therapy, but it is actually sad. I saw one group stumbling along in what looked like canvas bags recently, but it did nothing for the self-confidence of the wearers. If the PTA agreed to them, it would do well to take another look. If the intention was to tame the spirits of the girls and make them into “ladies”, all that has been achieved is to make jokes of these unfortunate children. What skirts I saw were bulky, bad-fitting, and boring garments. Sorry, but that’s not how we prepare a new generation. If anyone, young or old, is not confident in how they look, what can you expect of them?

The ‘Queen Victoria’ look is the continuation of gender inequality, as far as I am concerned. Nobody has hobbled the boys, as if exonerating them. It happens every time.

The Jose Marti dean of discipline promises to rein them in by letting out their skinny pants. Big deal. Not a soul is going to take the boys mek poppyshow. The girls have got the worst of the deal. The Serpent and Eve theory goes into action again.

LAST WORD: How much input did the girls have in the decision? Surely, they would have better taste.

gloudonb@yahoo.com