Protection of Elders against Coronavirus

 Written by: Wahida Sabir

Elders get sick sooner than other members of the family, and they suffer more than youngsters. Nowadays that the coronavirus is developing again, some families, especially the elderly, still do not take this disease seriously, so that the number of patients, especially elders is increasing and this disease is more dangerous to them.

AEPO’s writer/producer has talked to some people and a physician about this issue.

A woman, a resident of Ahmad Shah Baba mena, district 12, Kabul city says, “My elder brother was very afraid of coronavirus and finally he infected with this virus. When I went to visit him, unfortunately, he had died.”

Rukhshana, a resident of Kabul province says, I was suffering from coughing and depression; I thought that my blood sugar is high. They transferred to the hospital and the doctor says that I am infected with the coronavirus.”

Dr. Eid Wali Jan Mansoor, the chief of the coronavirus patients ward at the Afghan-Japan Hospital says, “Most elders are infected with some other diseases and when they get coronavirus, this virus is more dangerous to them than youngsters. The fact that the body cells of elders reach their final development so that the coronavirus is more dangerous to them and they suffer more from this disease.”

What do people think about the causes of infection of elders with coronavirus?

Muhammadullah, a resident of Logar province says, “I was infected with the coronavirus. My mother was in touch with me and she was infected with this virus too. I recovered soon but my mother suffered more.”

Farid Ahmad, a resident of Wakhan district, Badakhshan province says, “My father is the chief of the village and he is always taking part in the tribal meeting and he is infected with the coronavirus.”

Doctor Mansoor says, “One of the habits of most Afghan elders is that they less believe in what the doctor says and they think that the causes of infection of coronavirus may not be true so that they do not consider distance with the infected people. They do not even believe the coronavirus. They do not use facemasks and so that they are so likely to be infected with coronavirus.”

How do people could help elders during their infection with coronavirus?

Salih, a resident of Chaharasiab, district of Kabul province says, “My elder brother infected with the coronavirus. I quarantined him at home and I did not let my parents visit him. My brother recovered and my parents remained uninfected.”

A lady from Kabul city says, “I am suffering from heart disease. When the coronavirus spread, I do not take part in any kind of ceremonies. I only use the mobile phone for any purpose and so that I am not infected with coronavirus yet.”

Doctor Mansoor says, “All elders have to consider the advice of the doctors, e.g., they should consider the two-meters distance; use a facemask; avoid crowds outside; avoid contact with coronavirus patients and so on.”