Yinka Adeosun
Sir: Forty years ago, smallpox became the only human disease to be eradicated globally, as the World Health Organisation certified its eradication in 1980. Caused by one of two variants of virus, the last case was diagnosed in October 1977. Today, there’s no evidence of small pox infection and transmission anywhere in the world. The virus however still exists officially only in research laboratories.
Who would have ever thought that the world would be locked down, shutting down non-essential commercial activities, restrictions in the airspace and many confined to life indoors?
These are not interesting times all over the world. Covid-19 is an unfolding pandemic with far-reaching effect on every sector of human existence. The economies of countries of the world have been affected. While some are yet to navigate their way out of the pandemic, others are strategically mapping out strategies to brave the odds. Although it caught many countries unprepared, they have been able to manage the pandemic to a proportion whereby there appears to be ray of hope after all. In Nigeria, this is not so.
Prior to the index case in Nigeria on Feb 27, Nigeria’s leadership behaved as if the country was insulated from the corona virus. And when the COVID- 19 case was confirmed in the country, it took the president 58 days before he could address the nation on the issue. Many leaders of the world, including neighbouring African countries, addressed their citizens as soon as there was a confirmed test case. Anyway, we have since moved on.
But for the support of the private sector and non-government organisations during the period of the lockdown, government’s support was a drop in the ocean as citizens groan at home while many people defy the stay-at-home order which was meant to limit the spread of the coronavirus infection. Although the government claims that it has capacity to test 50,000 persons daily for the virus, it is yet to test up to that number after more than two months since the first case was recorded. With daily increase in the number of infected persons, the government has also expressed her fear of inadequate isolation centres. This is sad!
From history, we now know that this is not the first pandemic. And it may not be the last. But Africa has never been prepared for any major emergency. Covid-19 presents an opportunity for Africa, Nigeria in particular, to take health care seriously. Primary health care must be upgraded to basic standard beyond the first aid treatment and pre and post-natal services which seem to be their specialisation. Secondary and tertiary healthcare must also be given adequate attention. There are many deaths that could have been prevented in our hospitals simply because we have remained contented with the crumbs of technological innovation with laid back personnel who have constantly been overworked beyond reasonable capacity. What a pity!
Human beings are animals of faith and fate. Unless there’s a superior force they believe they will survive every odd no matter how dastardly it may seem. The reality however is that no one is immune from emergencies. It therefore behoves a responsible government with the kind of peculiarities that Nigeria boasts of – demographic magnitude – to be always prepared for such. But how can our government make any meaningful preparation when our data and record keeping is all over the place – grossly inaccurate and totally unreliable for any meaningful intervention. I wonder!
A sage says; “Don’t be sad that roses have thorns, rather be glad that thorns have roses.” In other words, don’t be sad that opportunities come with crises; rather, be glad that crises come with opportunities. With the realities that stare us in the face, hopefully, all levels of government would rise to the challenge of governance that Nigeria truly deserves. This is a wakeup call, a call to action, to turn around the fortune of Nigeria and bring out beauty from the ashes of COVID- 19. In times like this, a purposeful leadership is what we need, and it is urgent too. We must not waste this emergency.
- ’Yinka Adeosun,
Akure.
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