By *Jomo Sanga Thomas
(“Plain Talk” Oct. 8, 2021)
“All truths pass through three stages. First, it is ridiculed. Second, it is violently opposed. Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.” — Arthur Schopenhauer
On Sept. 13, I tested positive for the novel coronavirus. I took the test out of an abundance of caution. Although I had a mild temperature, I never lost my sense of taste and smell, never suffered vomiting, diarrhoea, a build-up of mucus or excessive coughing. On Saturday, Sept. 11, I popped the first Ivermectin pill. I am persuaded that that early intervention prevented the development of all the other symptoms associated with the illness. As a preventative, the instructions were to take a pill once per week. After the positive test, I took one pill each day.
Ivermectin works. I can testify to its healing qualities because it worked on me. By Sept. 16, a mere three days after testing positive, all symptoms disappeared and I have been fine since.
The day after my positive test, I announced that I was using Ivermectin. All hell broke loose. The mere mention of the drug brought on scorn and disdain. I was ridiculed for using a “horse tonic” or “dewormer”. Those mouthing this nonsense never stopped to consider they were being swallowed up in a massive whirlpool of misinformation and disinformation that was causing millions of lives worldwide.
My cardinal sin, which condemned me to die, was my refusal to take or advocate for vaccines. I have never opposed vaccines. I question the efficacy and safety of those used to fight COVID-19. Vaccines constitute a crucial ingredient in our medicine chest. But must not be sold as the only tool. I remain vehemently opposed to mandatory mass vaccination. It violates informed consent and assaults the bodily autonomy and integrity of citizens.
Ivermectin has a storied history that goes back decades. It was developed to fight parasites. Millions of people were saved from excruciating pain, blindness and death following its development. The drug is on the World Health Organization’s (WHO) schedule of essential medicines. The Japanese and American doctors who pioneered its use were awarded Nobel prizes for medicine in 2015. It has tested safe in other treatments.
Ivermectin is what the pharmacist or doctor calls a repurposed drug. Developed to treat a particular illness, it is found to be very useful in treating other ailments. The best examples of such repurposed drugs are Viagra and aspirin. Doctors and scientists, who know far more on these matters than I, have said that Ivermectin has potent anti-viral properties. It is very helpful in preventing and curing persons infected with the coronavirus.
Therefore, my decision to use Ivermectin was not made on a whim. It came after extensive reading and research. I became disillusioned that from the declaration of the pandemic, no one in the mainstream spoke of treatment. Citizens were simply told to social distance, sanitise their hands and wear a mask, go home and count your blessings.
Many doctors, scientists and virologists bemoaned this reality and maintained that the infection is treatable and need not be a death sentence. They claimed that a strict regimen of exercise coupled with high doses of vitamins C and D, zinc, fluids to avoid dehydration, and sunlight could determine whether you get seriously ill, die or recover. Most of these doctors spoke approvingly of Ivermectin. One doctor jokingly said many of the persons bad talking Ivermectin could neither pronounce nor spell the word. Doctors who disapproved of it never used it and witnessed its healing properties.
Before nightfall on the day of my positive test, news of my infection had travelled far and wide. For dark, vindictive, evil purposes, some celebrated the news as one who had won the American PowerBall Mega Millions lottery. Someone whom I embraced as a friend and confidante for decades is alleged to have said, “Ah whar the f*ck*r ded.”
Some of that flock even fostered the sickening thought that I knew I had COVID-19 and deliberately commingle with demonstrators protesting the government’s move to enforce mandatory vaccination to infect and jeopardise their health and life. The posse wanted me charged and tried for murder.
Further scorn was poured on because the Teachers’ Union and the Public Workers Union retained our law firm as counsel. We were declared strategists and tacticians of the unions even though our roles are limited to offering legal advice.
That’s how vile our discourse has become. Significantly, none attached to the cabal of power offered well wishes to a former Speaker of the House. None publicly signalled that this abuse had gone too far. For them, it was fair Game.
Generally, though, support for me and my health difficulties were overflowing and heart-warming. Many well-wishers called to check on me. Others asked whether I needed anything. Since my return to work, the expressions of support have been overwhelmingly touching. Vincentians are a magnificent people.
The knowledge of my positive status was concerning but not frightening. I had for years taken good care of myself. I prepared mentally and physically to fight whatever attacked me. For the first 24 hours, I was anxious but never fearful. A few weeks earlier, Dr. Dennie and his daughter listed me as a major anti-vaxxer who displayed ignorance of science that could endanger the lives of citizens.
Therefore, my anxiety was primarily because I did not want to offer the vaxxing crusade a propaganda bonanza. Had something untoward happened to me, they would have used me as exhibit A to prove that there must be no questioning of the official narrative during an emergency. Very early, I was ridiculed for saying that COVID-19 was not an existential threat.
The fight against the coronavirus is far from over, but we cannot succumb to the mantra of doom and gloom. I am one of almost 250 million persons who tested positive. Of these persons, 4.8 million died from or with COVID-19. The vast majority of persons who were infected with the virus survived. I am one of them.
There is light at the end of the tunnel. Contrary to what we may see, hear or believe, both the infectious rate and the death rate from COVID-19 is trending downwards. Johns Hopkins University public health tracker found that worldwide over the last 56 days, 4,027 daily deaths and 294,003 new infections.
No death or infections are to be sneered at. Everything must be placed in context. Light is always better than darkness and heat.
*Jomo Sanga Thomas is a lawyer, journalist, social commentator and a former Speaker of the House of Assembly in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
The opinions presented in this content belong to the author and may not necessarily reflect the perspectives or editorial stance of iWitness News. Opinion pieces can be submitted to [email protected].
Good always protects His Children.
Haters are always wicked and unhappy folks. Keeping detailing your knowledge.
Logical Conclusions Counsel, are only possible if both premises are fact based .
Continued best wishes.
I may think you are a fool, but I cannot be totally sure until you open your mouth, I am in danger of thinking that about Jono insofar as advocacy of Ivermectin is concerned.
I agree with everything in this article, although I often disagree with most of what Jomo writes about things related to economics.
Jomo is so right that there is so much misinformation out there designed to frighten people into taking the experimental vaccines. Most shocking is that most REAL health professionals ARE SILENCED and fake or compromised health care people are promoted, just like in SVG.
I am angry because after my mother died after vaccination here in SVG, I am supposed to believe she died of coincidence. A brain-washed person on this site seems to have indicated that I imagined her death.
Youtube and other powerful entities have stated they will eliminate content that does not go along with what they promote related to the virus and now, Global Warming. The greatest virologists and other scientists from Yale, Harvard, Oxford and many other distinguished institutions are ALL CANCELLED, in order to increase vaccination. Makes you wonder!
Jomo my advise to you is yo stick to law. When you steped out of your your comfort zone you sound like an imbecile. As your are an anti vaxers, dont tell others what to do with their choice. All i can say that you are lucky thst you are still in the land of the living.
Ivermectin is neither prophylactic or therapeutics this is a serendipitous discovery that one carries the virus it’s not evidence of any disease therefore it is erroneous to say that you recovered from something for which you had no symptoms . Billions of humans have in fact been similarly infected, spread and recovered from the virus. Irrespective of the use of ivermectin. You had the rare privilege of discovery because the test was available and you could afford the test. I pity those who wished you ill or your death. Statistically speaking a single individual who hypothetically recovers from an illness cannot be used to extrapolate evidence that a single therapy worked.
Needless I repeat as I though same. Thanks for that Jose
Jomo has promoted himself to the level of his incompetence. This latest installment only goes to prove that he does not understand the fundamental difference between anecdotal (rudimentary) evidence and class 1/2 scientific (top drawer) evidence. Unfortunately, his blind and adoring followers are in the same boat. If I need advice on a medical issue, I would think that it is logical to seek such from Dr Alwayn Leacock as opposed to Jomo Thomas any day. If the Court was seeking an expert witness with regards to ivermectin, Jomo Thomas certainly would not be called to provide such testimony. He knows this and we all know this. Therefore it baffles me why he is not only pretending that he’s an expert on the repeatedly discredited ivermectin, he’s also going out of his way to promote such. This is nothing short of fraudulent. Jomo your slip is once again showing.
‘Jomo don’t you think if you Ivermectin was a proven cure for corvid, researchers and other scientist would have herald the call for its use? All i am saying you are a lucky man to still be around. However, your are not doing any good to the Vincentian population by spreading fake news. Remember 95% of the people who contracted corvid will eventually survive. You are in that percentile .So don’t blow your own horn ‘Jomo. My advice is to stick to what you are good at. I hope and pray that your knowledge of law does not equate to the sort of ignorance and lack of information that you display in this article.
Alwayn Leacock, can you as a doctor please educate us on any adverse effects and on any contraindications of these vaccines? Await your help.
Jomo, I wish you all the best. I am also a survivor and for those who wish you ill , forgive them in Jesus Name.
Plain-talk always playing front man but wait you will soon find out what the consequences are after covid19, assuming of course that he did catch it. You will be playing a new pipe.