Alifia Sunday
SIR: Coronavirus is no longer hearsay, but a global pandemic whose time is here. So, we must key into measures that would eradicate the menace.
The pandemic also known as COVID-19 which was first reported in Nigeria February 27 has already affected close to three million people globally. Between 1918 and 1920, a similar pandemic broke out in Spain which known as Spanish Flu (NINI Virus).
It was estimated that about 500 million people or one-third of the world population became infected with this virus.
The number of deaths was estimated to be at least 50 million worldwide with about 675,000 occurring in the United States alone. High mortality in healthy people, including those in the 20-40 years age group, was a unique feature of this pandemic.
Just like the world is experiencing at the moment, the properties that made it so devastating are not well understood.
With no vaccine to protect against the influenza and no antibiotics to treat secondary bacterial infections associated with it, control efforts worldwide then were limited to flattering the curve via self-isolation, quarantine, good personal hygiene, use of disinfectants, and limitations to public gatherings, which were applied unevenly. This was applied to curtail the spread.
As it is at the moment, no single vaccine has been identified. Treatment is based on the symptoms exhibited by patients with chloroquine, vitamin c and other malaria drugs.
The global economy as it stands, is in doldrum. Crude oil which is the backbone of our economy in Nigeria has fallen down like Iroko tree.
Even developed countries are already struggling with their citizens calling on their governments to ease lockdown to save their crumbling economies. What is the hope of the developing nations in Africa?
Nigeria is presently in quagmire, searching for test kits. While the entire world is equally in need of the product, Nigeria’s situation appears worse.
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The scarcity of testing kits and other personal protective equipment is threatening to undermine the efforts of frontline workers managing the pandemic. Indeed, it has slowed down the process resulting in several patients waiting in isolation rooms for test, doctors abandoning their duty posts for dear lives due to shortages of protective equipment.
For a disease that has no cure for now, where the only measures to curtail the spread is staying at home, maintaining social distancing and other personal hygiene measures, it is amazing that Nigerians are calling for the easing of lockdown even when it is glaring that we are not there yet.
Now, President Muhammadu Buhari in his broadcast has approved a phased and gradual easing of lockdown in Lagos, Abuja and Ogun effective May 4.
He equally hinted that henceforth there will be overnight curfew to discourage interstate travellers, mandatory use of face masks, social distancing among other measures.
This decision according to him necessary to protect the economy from sliding into recession. This in my mind is succumbing to the whims and caprices of the people. I am afraid, unlocking ourselves now could portend great danger considering the waves of the pandemic
On palliatives, one notes that super rich countries like USA, France, Italy and others have tried to meet the needs of citizens after asking them to stay at home.
Trillions of dollars have been spent by various governments to cushion the effect of the pandemic. Here in Nigeria, the palliative measures are at best shambolic with stories of diversion of what was meant for vulnerable Nigerians.
Surely the palliatives are not meant for the honourable but the vulnerable. Let each of us play our role with sincerity of purpose to win the war.
- Alifia Sunday, Ilorin.
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