By Bashorun J K Randle

Sir: The commendations showered on you and your team as you strive to tackle the Corona Virus are clearly well deserved. The damage has been global while the devastation has been profound in Nigeria, especially in Lagos State. The leadership qualities you have displayed have been exceptional.

This has prompted my firm to suggest that while the frontline belongs to the health professionals, the least we can and ought to do is plead with you to commence PLANNING now for the second wave of the deadly pandemic which is only a matter of time.

We are dealing with a very aggressive virus which does not require a passport to cross borders or airline ticket to board flights whether first, business or economy class (not to mention cargo/baggage); customs / passport control are not a barrier; it is not even amenable to bribery or susceptible to intimidation by the rich and powerful not to talk of pleas for leniency by the poor and the weak.

We are confronted with a crisis of monumental proportions. The first wave crept up on us and almost took us unawares and largely unprepared.

In order to prepare adequately for the second wave, we recommend a war chest of at least ONE BILLION NAIRA. We believe that it is perfectly feasible to persuade ONE MILLION Lagosians and friends of Lagos State —within Nigeria, the diaspora and beyond to contribute ONE MILLION NAIRA each to demonstrate that they care.

The fund will be devoted to building CAPACITY to deal with mitigation and prevention evidenced by state of the art (World Class): Isolation / Quarantine facilities; Intensive Care Units; Research Centres for infectious diseases, and specialist hospitals.

In addition, we need to accelerate our local production of masks, goggles, gloves, drugs, sensitizers, Personal Protection Equipment, ventilators, testing equipment etc.

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We need to have in place an exit strategy that is ahead of the curve in an anticipation of  the vaccine which would hopefully be safe and effective .

We cannot afford to be behind the curve in the endeavour for antibody and massive testing with the emphasis on incubation/asymptoms/symptoms.

The main item on the agenda is the complete overhaul and thorough re-evaluation of: (1) the medical defence architecture, (2) medical   defence   assets and locations; (3) medical supply chain, and (4) medical control and command.

Separately, we shall deal with specialist training for doctors, nurses, health carers etc.

We shall also deal separately with aligning with global strategies by WHO and other international initiatives and Nigeria’s national strategy as well as computer modelling and projections plus data gathering and containment strategies.

What we have inherited is chaos and lack of co-ordination along with fear and uncertain it the midst of ignorance and poverty.

Now is the time to replace them with a real time situation room.

• Bashorun J K Randle, Lagos.