The Sunday News
A SENIOR resident medical doctor at Mpilo Central Hospital in Bulawayo, Dr Misheck Ruwende is a Covid-19 survivor. Dr Ruwende tested positive for Covid-19 in December 2020, and for nearly two weeks, he battled symptoms of the pandemic such as severe body aches, severe joints pain, headache while also feeling feverish.
Dr Ruwende is also the chief executive officer and founder of Health and Longevity, a start-up initiative aimed at providing evidence-based health information for the betterment of people’s health. Lizwe Sebatha (LS) had a one-on-one with Dr Ruwende (MR) where he shared his thoughts on Covid-19 vaccination, and why it should be made mandatory.
LS: Did you use any traditional home remedies to fight Covid-19, and if yes, which ones?
MR: I didn’t use any traditional home remedies, I just used paracetamol for body pains and hot body, and of course, lots of fluids. Remember with a hot body you are losing lots of water.
I don’t mind people using home remedies like zumbani. Reason being although there are no specific efficacy studies about these remedies in Covid-19 we know that such remedies have worked to some extent in familiar viruses like the flu so those components can be useful in Covid-19 management. However, it is very important to say that once one starts having the slightest episodes of difficulties in breathing and high temperature then immediately, they must look for medical assistance.
LS: The issue of vaccination has raised a lot of debate. What are your thoughts on vaccination as an individual and also as a medical practitioner?
MR: My thoughts as an individual and as a doctor are essentially the same especially in this matter. I’m totally for vaccination. Maybe because I have seen people and have taken care of patients who succumbed to this disease, dying a painful death within hours of the onset of symptoms with nothing much we could do to stop the progression.
So, I understand very well the need for everyone to embrace any form of prevention including vaccination. And of course, supported by studies all over, which have shown the importance of vaccination as far as Covid-19 prevention is concerned, yes with the delta variant for example one may get the Covid-19 infection after vaccination but their chances of dying are reduced and that’s the most important end result anyway, preserving life.
LS: Should vaccination be made compulsory and why?
MR: Personally, I think it should be made compulsory. I understand legally it may sound wrong but if you spend one day in a hospital during the Covid-19 peak you may end up with the same conclusion. I love seeing people going back alive and living their lives fully. I hate certifying dead bodies. But I think one of the ways to encourage people to get vaccinated is to give them adequate information. However, in this era it’s unfair for people to complain of lack of information, the internet is all over, the information is there. I suggest instead of people basing their decisions on hearsay they must research and make well-informed conclusions.
And for us doctors, not talking about the Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) for example, which we all received — compulsorily. For us, it’s compulsory when we are enrolled as medical students to be vaccinated for Hepatitis. In short, I’m saying the “compulsory” administration of vaccines already exists.
LS: And turning to pregnant women and women who are breastfeeding. Is there any reason for them to fear the vaccine? Some women have been raising issues around fertility. Should they worry?
MR: Currently no evidence shows that any vaccines, including Covid-19 vaccines, cause fertility problems in both women and men, same with breastfeeding mothers, no evidence to suggest the vaccine being harmful to the baby or the mother. No need to worry at all. What is known however, is that pregnant women are at a higher risk of getting severe Covid-19 disease.
LS: What about people who have allergies, or are asthmatic or have chronic diseases. Is it safe for them to be vaccinated?
MR: It is very safe, in fact, those are the people I would strongly encourage to get vaccination without hesitation especially those with chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart problems etcetera because we know they are at risk of severe Covid-19 disease, but we also know vaccines will prevent such unwanted consequences.
LS: Any other comments on Covid-19 and the vaccination drive?
MR: People must do all that they can to prevent themselves from getting Covid-19, even if you won’t die, the experience is not a pleasant one and also that we don’t really know the long-term effects.
Maybe I must mention I see people putting more effort into sanitising hands and avoiding shaking hands only to sit without any social distancing at all thereafter. It’s important to note social distancing remains the best way to prevent yourself, in other words the best way is not to get the infection at all. Vaccination is equally an effective way. Of course, all other preventative measures are important but some play a major role over others and it’s important to understand that to avoid misplaced extra efforts. – Citizen Bulletin
