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YIPEE, the rains are upon us.
Mvura naya naya, tidye mupunga!
Zulu zulu buya sidle amakhomane! you hear children singing melodiously and dancing whenever the heavens weep.
And true to this, the rainy season brings a refreshing new look on vegetation as rivers start singing with fresh water, giving aquatic creatures a new lease of life.
This is a time of the year when people never struggle for relish. In this wet season, our grandmothers, mothers, sisters and wives never struggle.
Battles to put something in the stewpot temporarily subside because pumpkin leaves (muboora), nyevhe, majuru (red termites), ishwa (flying ants) and tsambarafuta (white ants) will be in abundance.
Fishermen rarely go without a catch, and it is in the wet season that mushrooms of various shapes and sizes can also be found.
Gentle reader, the rainy season gives everyone a chance to contribute meaningfully to economic development, especially in agro-based economies like ours.
Families are tilling the land for subsistence and perhaps a little surplus for sale to enable children to go back to school next year.
When it rained during my youthful days in the streets of Glen Norah, we would run naked just for fun, earning us firm beatings from our parents.
Whenever clouds let go off the water in their bellies, it afforded us a chance to swim in rivers and streams bordering the populous high-density suburb.
Called “kurova mubhangu,” “duhwino,” “muchaira,” or “chikonye dungira”, swimming then was a favourite pastime. These escapades however, had their trying moments.
We sometimes got cut by broken bottles thrown into the water courses by imbibers, and even contracted bilharzia and a host of other water-borne diseases.
Rains indeed bring relief after long, dry spells. But along with the respite from heat, the season brings forth health issues like skin diseases, fungal infection, hepatitis, diarrhoea and related problems.
Children are especially vulnerable to these diseases, and a little care and simple steps can keep them safe.
According to health professionals, skin diseases are most common in the rainy season.
“Skins get affected as it becomes greasy and oily in this season. There can be fungal infections like dandruff on the scalp, hair loss due to humidity, insect bites allergy, acne and boils,” said Saroj Rai, a skin specialist. She added, “Take regular baths, if possible twice a day, with antiseptic soap. Girls should use moisturisers but which are not oily and should go for a dry make-up instead of heavy make-up.
“People should not wear synthetic as they are uncomfortable. Despite cloudy skies, sun block cream is a must with a minimum SPF of 15 to 20. Street food and spicy food should be avoided. Face should be washed with mild face wash twice or thrice a day.”
The experts say children of all age groups need special care in this season.
“They catch colds, get diarrhoea and many such water-borne diseases. Hence, if it’s a new born it should be protected from cold. Open and cut fruits on the streets and water should be avoided.”
General physicians also suggest that people need to protect themselves from seasonal variations.
They should eat only home-prepared food. Clothes should always be dry because that can lead to fungal diseases.
This season there are more chances of viral and bacterial eye infection.
“Eye infection and conjunctivitis may lead to watering, irritation and pain. It is better to avoid contact with the infected person, do not share handkerchief or towel with the infected person. People have a tendency to use eye drops unnecessarily. That should not be the case and doctors should be consulted for any medication,” said an eye specialist.
Motorists too are not spared.
Buy an umbrella for the car, office, a friend and home.
If you haven’t raised your sport car, call your mechanic now.
Don’t drive while it’s raining or less than 20 minutes after, it takes a while for highway floods to clear.
Don’t venture into roads you less frequently used (during the dry season) as floods make it difficult to differentiate pot holes from “gutters” and “canals”.
If you must drive while it’s drizzling or raining, turn your headlamps on and your emergency lamps too. Also, avoid depending on horns alone, while you honk, flash your full lights as well since most windows are wound up and A/Cs on in other to clear the windscreen of most cars. Some even tune up their radios for situation reports, coupled with the deafening sound of the rain and thunder outside, your horn alone is less than likely to pass the message across.
Use your hazard lights and flash your full lights.
Don’t get wet in rains: People mostly get wet in rains, whether with or without an intention. Children coming from their schools and professionals coming from their offices, often get caught in rains.
Rain water is not good for health — it causes cold and fever, and increases hair falls. If you get wet in rains, then dry yourself as quickly as you can. It is advised to take a bath after getting wet in rains — this is the best solution for the problem.
Avoid wet and dirty clothes: You must avoid wet clothes in the rainy season. Wet clothes facilitate the environment for the growth of germs. You must wear clean clothes in this season. You can get infected by skin infections caused by bacteria and fungi if you wear wet/dirty clothes. Avoid food from road vendors because there is no guarantee that it is properly cooked.
When staying near rivers, avoid swimming at all costs because the chances of drowning are high and also because of the dangers of being attacked by crocodiles.
Inotambika mughetto.
Online Reporter