Your thoughts and Mine on … H1N1
Perhaps it’s one of the most talked about health-related topic these days.
Well. Especially if you live in Singapore.
With the flu virus spreading like wildfire all around the world during the June school holiday AND kids going back to school again last Monday, the media talks about this. A lot.
And naturally, quite a few parents wonder whether they really should send their kids to school, whether it’ll be safe, whether traveling overseas is a good idea, whether what the Singapore government is doing is an over-reaction, OR in fact, a good precautionary measure.
[Go to http://www.h1n1.gov.sg to read the latest updates of H1N1 in Singapore]
Mmm.
I too was a little unsure about whether or not I should let Anya start school last Monday.
I thought of letting her skip her Monday class, just to see how things go when all schools re-opened.
And if you ask me, it’s not about contracting the H1N1 virus itself actually, because I know although it is contagious, it’s considerably mild (well, at least that’s what the media’s been telling us too lately)
What I’m totally not looking forward to is getting the quarantine IF any of us got the virus.
(Just in case you’re not familiar with how Singapore tackles the virus : if it’s confirmed that you have the virus, you might need to stay at a hospital or a designated quarantine centre for 7 to 10 days. AND, even if you’re told to go home, you DO have to be home quarantined, for 7 to 10 days. And all the while, your health will be monitored).
In the end, Wilson and I decided to just let Anya go to school as usual last Monday.
And what do you know.
The school bus auntie actually had one of those ‘thermometer guns‘ and she checked every single child’s temperature BEFORE they boarded the school bus.
[She pointed the ‘thermometer’ towards the forehead, without touching it, for about three seconds, and she’d know the kid’s temperature]
I was utterly impressed.
AND, the school staff checked everyone’s temperature again BEFORE they go to class.
Well.
I don’t know if people call this an ‘over-reaction’ or not, but as a parent, I feel somewhat reassured. You know, that at least the Singapore government and the people out there who’re in charge of our little ones try to do their part in keeping the virus at bay.
And.
I really feel this whole H1N1 virus situation serves as a gentle reminder to us too, that we are ALL vulnerable.
That there’s only so much that we can do to prevent things from happening to us.
And that IF we are still good and healthy today, that is PURE BLESSINGS from God, and is totally NOT because of how ‘in full control’ we are of our own lives.
Let’s learn to count our blessings. In all kinds of circumstances.
…
What are your thoughts on H1N1?
Did you have any concerns before school started last Monday? How does your kid’s school handle the whole situation? And if you live outside of Singapore, how are things in your country?
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Imelda :
Thanks for sharing! Yup it sure is about uncertainty vs. Certainty and Hope!
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Siska :
Sis, hope JL and JH are all okay real real soon, and JL’s not getting the H1N1 flu too there!
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Chitra :
I think it’ll be hard to ‘contain’ since it does spread real quickly (though not as deadly as SARS). hope it all gets better soon …
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Sandra :
I personally know some friends who’re down with H1N1, and the preschooler (4yo) and daddy were picked up by an ambulance (upon lab confirmation that it’s H1N1) and they had to stay at the hospital for 4 days. She missed her mommy so much (who had to be home with the 1yo brother) that she called her mommy and cried…
Poor thing. I know the govt is trying to implement preventive measures to reduce the spread, but it sure is hard on those who get quarantined ya …
PS: the little brother got the H1N1 too in the end before the sister came back home, but upon request, the hospital allowed them to be ‘home quarantined’ instead (better than staying at the hospital for days, I’m sure)
H1N1 is a non-issue here – there were a couple of suspected cases, some people were quarantined – these were reported on the news & that was that – no one really seriously talks about it, no other measures are in place.
i’m not in SG but i think the media is making too much of it – the common flu kills more people than this virus – so i think we should just go about our daily lives.
However, looking at the measures SG govt has in place, i can understand why people would be frustrated at the quarantine measures – maybe i would also feel the same worries if i lived there now & was exposed to the same media influences.
Thanks a lot for posting an article on this much talked about topic. yes i did send my child to school on monday when they re-opened after holidays.And the school has taken all possible measure to make sure that the theres no sick child attending school, and infact they gave us the travel declaration form to check if any of us travelled to the affected countries.If so they are required to stay at home for 7 days .They also check their temperature before class.
All these saftey measures gives us some kind of assurance. However we never know anyone can get it any time.
I hope this sitaution will not worsen further though its not completely stoppable. Just pray to GOD to protect everyone.
i think it’s a good preventative measure what sg gov’t is doing. here (red. melbourne) we’ve got too many cases of H1N1 that the gov’t now has stopped counting. In Victoria, I think only 2 ppl died of swine flu. but yeah… our gov’t is not as attentive as sg gov’t. the affected school will either be closed or opened with scrutiny monitoring. that’s all the gov’t does.
As a parent, I’m worried, but let me share what my Pastor wrote on the church bulletin: “The uncertainty posed by the H1N1 flu reminds us of what life is all about: uncertain. Laboratories around the world are studying the strain of H1N1 virus, but by the time a vaccine is produced, the strain could have mutated and the vaccine may no longer be effective. Uncertainty generates anxiety. Only knowing that God is in control (Matthew 6:25-34) can help us find peace. What a wonderful opportunity to share that peace as God’s children with those who are worrying!” A complete note can be found at http://www.zionbpc.org.sg/resources/bulletin/2009/b28june2009zbms8.30.pdf (Pastor David writes… H1N1 blessing in disguise?) I’m truly blessed by his note. God bless you all.