Ebola distraction
As to the Oct. 31 BDN letter in regards to the professionalism of our town manager and chief of police, I agree that they have shown the utmost respect to the situation we are faced with. I also believe that the nurse being hounded by the media is also a true professional and that should any sign or symptom arise indicating that Ebola would be present in her, she would immediately report such to the Centers for Disease Control and seek treatment for such.
Let us all keep in mind that it is an election year and that, unfortunately, Ebola has been politicized by our politicians. It also has been a distractor, in my opinion, to the atrocities going on in the Middle East with ISIS. One would think that the focus of the news would be on eliminating Ebola at the source rather than focus on individuals who have gone and put their lives in danger, only to return to criticism. I would only hope that we, the silent, support these courageous individuals.
Lloyd Soucie
Fort Kent
Take Ebola precautions
I am a health care professional and understand and practice universal precautions in the workplace to prevent the spread of communicable diseases. If I had gone to a country to help those infected with Ebola, I would not have set foot on American soil until it was proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that I did not carry the Ebola virus.
People can appear asymptomatic as the virus incubates in their bodies. People can remain asymptomatic and never get sick but still carry the deadly virus in themselves. The case of “Typhoid Mary” is such an example of a person walking among people and spreading typhoid fever everywhere she went.
Like Kaci Hickox, she was adamant about not being infected and continued to cook for people in their homes. As soon as an outbreak of typhus occurred, she fled. This shows she knew she was the cause, but fought authorities at every turn.
In defense of Kaci, she has not infected anyone with Ebola, but that is not the problem as of yet. She refuses to be quarantined and she refuses blood tests. If I were her boyfriend, I would be running for my life. I would not take chances with being infected by a deadly virus with a 90 percent mortality rate.
No one should take this situation lightly, especially Kaci. Do what any medical professional should do. Get tested. Stay quarantined for the 21 days.
Patty Trefry
Meddybemps
Question 3 thanks
Thank you to all who voted yes on ballot Question 3. The passage of this bond continues a 20-year program that fuels small businesses, sustains Maine’s economy and provides jobs for our families, friends and neighbors.
The overwhelming support for Question 3 approved $4 million in funds to insure portions of loans to small businesses to spur investment and innovation, and to provide $8 million in funds to make flexible loans to small businesses to create jobs, revitalize downtowns and strengthen the rural economy.
To date, the loan program funded by these bonds seeded 772 revolving loans to Maine businesses and helped to create and retain a total of about 10,500 jobs since 1993. It helps small businesses overcome obstacles to needed capital. Your vote continues to support the small businesses that are creating jobs in your community and driving Maine’s rural economy. This is economic impact you can believe in.
Carla Dickstein
Wiscasset
Advances to celebrate
In her Oct. 16 BDN OpEd, Nancy Greene highlights breast density and its potential to mask early detection of breast cancer on mammograms. This is important information in the arsenal of women’s health advocacy, because cancerous tumors are more difficult to detect in dense breast tissue.
Greene goes on to state that little has changed in breast cancer diagnosis and survival over the years, and that we can’t afford more years of business as usual. For the record, considerable progress has been made, in Maine and across the U.S. While deaths due to breast cancer increased from 1975 through the early 1990s, survival among women with breast cancer has improved significantly since then, according to the National Cancer Institute. Much of this is due to improvements in screening, treatment and research. And although variations do exist across the state, our screening rates in Maine are above the national average thanks to the combined efforts of state programs and groups like Susan G. Komen, Breast Cancer Coalition, Maine Breast and Cervical Health Program, Maine Cancer Foundation, local hospitals and others.
We have much to celebrate during Breast Cancer Awareness Month — but we have a long journey ahead of us as we seek to put an end to breast cancer. Combining our efforts as professionals, advocates, patients, volunteers and supporters, we can make the impact together. That is what our Race for the Cure, our Sea of Pink, is all about.
Holly Korda
President
Maine Affiliate, Susan G. Komen
Brewer
Onward success
For more than 40 years, the Onward Program at the University of Maine has served as the side door for those in central Maine who want to obtain post-secondary education. The Onward Program was created to meet the needs of displaced workers, first-generation college students, single parents and those who have obtained their GEDs as opposed to high school diplomas. After May 2015, the door will be shut for all students who do not meet UMaine’s traditional academic criteria favoring traditional-aged students.
The Onward Program offers counseling services, peer advising and mentoring services, developmental academic courses in English, mathematics, science and history/college reading, and a variety of academic support including tutoring and study labs. The Onward Program pays attention to the needs of nontraditional students — students who often come from the world of work seeking a new opportunity for success.
The University of Maine is calling the measure eliminating the Onward Program “a realignment,” and has claimed not to have made budget cuts that impact academic services. UMaine has not provided a plan to the public that details how the university will continue to support the needs of these students without the Onward Program there.
The Onward Program is a model program that provides the gift of opportunity to an individual with a dream. The University of Maine should have expanded the types of supports the Onward Program provides students long ago to ensure the entire student population received the opportunity for success that Onward creates for their students.
Kimberly Hammill
Levant