Health minister pleads to know-all politicians to stop handing out recommendations on flue prevention

November02200920:17

Down is the full text of his appeal:

"Today, the country is faced with a serious challenge. The swine flue outbreak has reached Ukraine, and we need to coordinate work of all branches of power. Instead, as witnessed by the recent events, the grave situation we are in is exploited by politicians for settling political scores and engaging in unconstructive criticism.

I regard all the accusations of financial abuse leveled against the health ministry as an attempt to paralyze the vital work of its officials aimed at coordinating anti-flue activities of various bodies. As minister, I promise to cooperate in starting all kinds of checks and investigations against ministry officials but only after the flue epidemic has been minimized.

I also urge all politicians, even those with medical education, to refrain from comments and advice in the media on how to treat the swine flue. At present, political rhetoric around the flue outbreak has led journalists to go to the health ministry for comments, and this takes away our precious time to dismiss the allegations given by laymen and be engaged in discussing purely professional topics.

Everyone should be doing its own business. Go easy on the valuable time of medical officers who are busy saving the lives of Ukrainians. Thank you for understanding.”

• 14:2518.11.09 Tom
• • Give me a break! No one in Ukraine is discussing more important "basics" to preventing the spread of the flu besides hand washing and wearing of face masks and visiting your doctor immediately. What of OTHER things that are likely as important or MORE important? Vitamin D-3 (5,000 I.U. per day--we know Ukrainians do NOT get much sunshine exposure and UV rays do NOT go through clothes to enable vitamin D to be made in their skin, Vitamin C--several grams per day. This vitamin is hardly available in "high" doses in Ukraine, limiting sugar consumption. (Sugar weakens the immune system some fifty percent within a brief period of time) and, of course, eating more fruits and vegetables. I'm sorry, but ANY politician has the right to tell their people to take better care of their health. The doctors aren't doing it and the politicians certainly weren't able to stop the aerial spraying which--if confirmed, would be a terrorist act. Tom, Nutritionist, http://tompetrie.net
• 22:0403.11.09 Judy in Utah
• • advice our American counterparts should follow, good for him.