Hart County, Ga. is a very interesting town.
What I have learned in trying to report on the health issues that surround the county is that location is everything. To really understand how someone lives their day to day lives one needs to be there for a full day.
Working in a small town to get my feet wet would not be my first choice, but if it were required it is NECESSARY that a reporter is able to immerse themselves into the town. I was not able to do that unfortunately.
Now that the summer is coming and someone has expressed interest in this conundrum that exists between the health department and MedLink I will probably be spending some time their this summer.
I am sure that every town has their secrets and their problems, but what I also understand now is that every place has problems and secrets. Like the swine flu, it is irresponsible to represent a common problem as some unheard of crime against humanity. Citizens not receiving proper healthcare and commuting to see specialized doctors is not fair, but it is also not uncommon.
It is unfair that healthcare is not equal throughout the nation. If everyone did have equal access to healthcare; would there be healthcare options available locally?
Medicare without a car is pretty much useless for some. Money to pay for nursing homes that are already overcrowded doesn't serve much of a purpose either. The solution is not clear, but that doesn't mean that a solution doesn't exist.
Hopefully the new administration will find it.
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Friday, May 1, 2009
Slight Recant
So after rants and raves from people online and abroad an article has finally given voice to the idea that the swine flu may indeed just be the flu.
Yahoo article.
The article cites a flu expert who sees no reason to believe that this strain of the virus is more lethal than any other.
The President is hopeful that the virus may be just a seasonal one.
I am relieved to hear this revealation. After receiving several phone calls from worried family and friends; I have at times become enraged by the fear instilled by a lack of proper reporting and over-exposure.
I am glad they have finally consulted with professionals in determining whether or not this strain is extremely dangerous.
In all of the coverage I had seen before, no one every quantified how deadly the swine flu was only that it existed and killed people.
A friend of mine had reserved a room with a family over the summer for an internship. The family called only a couple days ago to tell him that they were going overseas for the summer to try to avoid the flu.
My grandmother was busy stockpiling water and food and my cousin I'm told is wearing a surgical mask and gloves around the house.
Hopefully this will improve the way people are reacting to this flu and hopefully more people will seek more scientific backing when reporting stories.
Yahoo article.
The article cites a flu expert who sees no reason to believe that this strain of the virus is more lethal than any other.
The President is hopeful that the virus may be just a seasonal one.
I am relieved to hear this revealation. After receiving several phone calls from worried family and friends; I have at times become enraged by the fear instilled by a lack of proper reporting and over-exposure.
I am glad they have finally consulted with professionals in determining whether or not this strain is extremely dangerous.
In all of the coverage I had seen before, no one every quantified how deadly the swine flu was only that it existed and killed people.
A friend of mine had reserved a room with a family over the summer for an internship. The family called only a couple days ago to tell him that they were going overseas for the summer to try to avoid the flu.
My grandmother was busy stockpiling water and food and my cousin I'm told is wearing a surgical mask and gloves around the house.
Hopefully this will improve the way people are reacting to this flu and hopefully more people will seek more scientific backing when reporting stories.
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