Hepatitis B en China.
En mi anterior post escribí sobre la correlación estadística hallada entre la incidencia del virus de la hepatitis B en China y el hecho de que nazcan más niños que niñas en ese país.
Al margen de por este ya de por sí importante hecho, la hepatitis B constituye un grave problema de salud en China, ya que se considera que entre 170 y 130 millones de personas de ese país están crónicamente infectadas con el virus de la hepatitis B o HBV.
El estar crónicamente infectado por el HBV (esto es, dar positivo por HBV durante más de 6 meses) incrementa dramáticamente las posibilidades de sufrir cirrosis hepática y el letal cáncer de hígado. Por eso, del mismo modo que, aun no habiendo desarrollado enfermedad alguna, el portador de un virus del SIDA debe ser inmediatamente tratado, también los portadores del HBV tienen derecho a recibir cuidados médicos, pues de otro modo hasta 1 de cada 4 de los crónicamente infectados fallecerá finalmente de cáncer de hígado o de enfermedades hepáticas.
En China, el tratamiento de la hepatitis B se enfrenta a dos tipos de dificultades: por un lado, la falta de recursos económicos, que ha llevado a las autoridades Chinas a priorizar la prevención de la infección crónica mediante la vacunación masiva a los recién nacidos (en China la forma más común de infección es por la vía prenatal) sobre el tratamiento de los adultos ya infectados, por otro lado, la discriminación que sufren los portadores de este virus que les lleva a ocultar su condición de tales .
Tristemente, las autoridades chinas son las primeras responsables de la marginación que padecen los portadores del HBV en ese país ya que, en la práctica totalidad de las provincias administrativas, las personas que en los test presentan un gran número de virus (da san yang) no pueden acceder al funcionariado. En aquéllos casos en que los test demuestran que el virus permanece más o menos estable y no se está replicando (xiao san yang ) queda a discreción de las autoridades de cada provincia determinar si el infectado puede o no ser elegible para un puesto público.
Para comprender lo inútil e inhumano de semejante política, nada mejor que leer la sección de comentarios a los posts que Asian Labour News dedicó a este tema aquí y aquí. Reproduzco íntegramente uno de los más descorazonadores:
Dear Sir or Madam,
Thanks for your usual help and supports in improving the labor’s rights in China.
I write the letter to show you the really situation of hepatitis B virus carriers in China.I am Hawker Yin, a senior quality engineer, who has worked in Kohler Company China Factory for almost 2 years, was fired because of the positive result for hepatitis B virus (HBV) in physical check and asking the therapy. Meanwhile, Kohler refused to give me an occupational disease check before leaving, skimped my last month salary and drove me out of the company with intimidation. A lawsuit of human right protection occurred after the labor dispute. This is a typical epitome of HBVers staffs in China.
The location of Kohler Company China Factory is Foshan City, Guangdong Province. The main products of Kohler company are ceramics, such as kitchen, bath and bowl.
I was responsible for the process and quality continuous improvement in the workshop from casting to kiln. Per the photos I have taken and Kohler’s working instructions, the optimized condition of ceramic casting is high temperature (35℃), high humidity (75%) in a hermetic environment. On the other hand, the setting temperature of kiln is almost 1200℃. The space is full of dust since glaze granule is the main material on the ceramic surface.
Feeling tired and cold in body, I conformed the physical examination record on Feb 14th, 2003 in the clinic. I was surprised that I was a chronic carrier of the liver disease. Due to misunderstanding of HBV in the whole country, I thought the bad working environment reduced my immunity. I requested the medical therapy. To my astonishment, Kohler company fired me with no reason in the walking papers and held my salary, then swept me out of the company with intimidation.
From the view of Chinese traditional culture, lawsuit is a kind of shame. People seldom sue the company if they encounter the unfair treatment. Actually I also wanted to forget the unhappy experience and began to seek for a new job. To my disappoint, all the company granted me an opportunity for my excellent management and technical background during the interview, but refused to hire me because of a HBVer. Social assurance and alms system are in the basic stage in China. I had to stay at home to wait for the chance.
My wife laid off. My baby was in the cradle. I also supported estovers for my parents. What’s more, I felt uncomfortable in my lung. Loosing work and health in Kohler company, I was living a miserable life. I had no choice but fight for my right.
I bought lawbooks and studied by myself. I ensured that Kohler Company had violated my human rights. Then I sent emails to the headquarter of Kohler Company in Wisconsin, USA. I tried to communicate with the global human resource director to get my rights, but I failed. Then I led Kohler company to the court without hesitation.
HBV discrimination is becoming a serious social problem in China. There are 10 more percent of the population, or 1.2 billions people were affected by this liver disease. HBVers are not allowed to go to kindergarten, collage, and forbidden to hold office in government and company according to the current rules and consuetude. People are afraid of talking and sitting near a HBVer, they believe the flu-like virus will definitely catch them. Some HBVers murdered himself because of the huge psychological pressure and long time gloominess. These include farmers, workers and graduate students.
For the employees, if they are detected HBV in case of body check, their careers will end. However, The employers may not dismiss the HBVers directly, they always make some traps to make the HBVers fallen in, or find excuses captiously to throw the HBVers from company.
For example, Apr 2002, Fushan Electronics, a Taiwanese factory in Nanhai district, Foshan city, Guangdong, whipped 21 HBVers by trick and kepped their salary. Mar 2004, Fuyang Textile Company in Dongguan City, Guangdong Province, found 677 of 2000 worker were HBVers, the owner changed the labor contract manipulatively and drew 107 worker away without payment at the first time. The lowly paid workers are the weakers, they have no money and time to accuse of the company. Fewer fight but fail.
Anti-discrimination against HBVers movement is pushing the legal and social development. It draws the attention of the government to solve the problem carefully. Zhou Yichao pierced an official to death and badly
injured another one who rejected him only because he was a HBVer. Then, Zhang Xianzhu, accused of the personal bureau of Anhui Province. Chinese government is concerning about this unreasonable discrimination and will modify some requirements of the body check.. Even the intimacy right is under considering. Although China is making process in handling the discrimination, HBVers are still worrying about their life, human right
and future.I, together with my HBV friends, are looking forward to your helping Chinese to solve the HBV discrimination. We wish that you do some contribution for us.
Best regards,
Hawker Yin
