IN ADDITION TO

On April 3, 2020, I  wrote:

IN ADDITION TO….(LETTER TO COVID-19 PRESIDENTIAL TASK FORCE)
COVID-19 is a pandemic, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Today, this virus is in over a hundred and fifty countries in the world. Global number of cases has risen to over 1 million. Case mortality is about 50,000. 
Though China, South Korea, Spain, and Germany have bent the curve of COVID-19, USA is yet to get its act together. Truth is not being told about testing, person protective equipments (PPE), stay-at-home orders, etc. Focus has, mainly, been on saving the economy and not on those who rev the economy. Without people, there will be no economy. 
Nigeria countered the Zika virus when the world thought we wouldn’t. So, I know we can battle, curtail and contain COVID-19. But, in doing this, we should not copy the US. Reason: the US is not leading in the fight against this very virus. While our help comes from God, we should also look at what Germany and South Korea have done. Simply put, these two countries focused on testing and testing and testing. This is what I have been advocating as an epidemiologist. 

Massive and aggressive testing will help us separate those who have the virus, those who have been exposed to the virus, from those who have not been exposed to COVID-19. Testing will also help us to know those who have the virus even when they appear to show no signs and symptoms (sneezing, coughing, fever, difficulty breathing etc).
So, in addition to the steps already established by the special committee on Coronavirus in Nigeria by His Excellency, Muhammad Buhari, this Presidential Task Force should also look at the following:

1. Have a centralized plan or unified command (to be manned by a respected military-navy, airforce or army- officer)
2. Test, test, test
3. Purchase, and have plans to distribute, PPEs to hospitals 
4. Identify hospitals, stadiums, churches, schools that could be used as COVID-19 centers (at least 3 in each state depending on the size and topography of the state)
5. Teach, educate, inspire, and support the population 
6. Officially seek out help from South Korea and Germany (be on conference calls, invite their doctors who were directly involved in COVID-19, purchase ventilators)
7. Coordinate with state governors to establish state commands
8. Ensuring that state commands include academics, healthcare professionals, faith workers, traditional rulers
9. In tandem with the Nigerian Center for Disease Control (NCDC), inform the public (in as many languages as possible) with the Informatics of or COVID-19 related data
10. Encourage local tailors to make more fact masks that will be needed by all when the time comes 
11. Make available hand washing equipment in strategic locations 
12. Design an effective supply chain management 
13. Look into providing financial cushioning to teeming Nigerians 
14. Tap into the resources of oil and gas industries like using their hospitals 
Growing up, I learned that a stitch in time saves nine. Our government contained the Ebola virus, we can replicate such with COVID-19. Let us remind the public that the following are important:
1. Stay-at-home 
2. Stand 3 to 6 feet away from the next person 
3. Wash your hands with water and soap for at 20 seconds 
4. Don’t touch your face
5. Cough into your folded hands 
6. No one is immune to this virus. It affects everyone. 
7. You can get this virus by breathing and talking. 
8. Use handkerchief or headscarf to cover your nose and mouth
9. Avoid gatherings of more than 10 people 
10. Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 
It has been recently identified that this virus can be transmitted by talking and breathing. The public needs to know this too. But most importantly, our government (federal, state, and local with the federal government taking lead), should translate COVID-19 information into all languages and transmitting same in public radios and TV stations all over our beloved country. 

God bless Nigeria!
God bless our President!!

Uzoma Nduka (Ph.D)
Epidemiologist and Poet

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Waste Management and Incineration: The Nigerian Experience In developing countries, the management of waste remains a colossal challenge 1 . Measurable attention has not been paid to this 21 st century multi-faceted quandary in a promising country like Nigeria. Bottlenecks like proper institutional arrangement, insufficient financial resources, absence of bylaws and standards, inflexible work schedules, insufficient information on quantity and composition of waste, and inappropriate technology 1 have continued to rear its anti-photogenic head. Issues like lack of statistical records, embezzlement of allocations and corrupt practices, dishonesty of agencies and contractors, government lipstick approach, unenthusiastic private sector involvement adds to the laxity in handling waste management in Nigeria. Collection of waste and disposing of it and other elements in-between is a process that needs urgent attention. However, efforts at addressing this issue to meet global best pra...
Read more

Dana Crash and public health

The Dana plane crash in Lagos and public health implications No doubt that there must be some health fall-outs from the Dana airline plane that crashed in Lagos, Nigeria, on the 3 rd of June, 2012. The public stand at risk of jeopardizing their health especially those with pulmonary problems. There are speculations that within the vicinity of the crash will be newborn babies with immature lungs, fragile and immuno-compromised old men and women, young men that smoke cigarettes and second-hand smokers, young women that has been exposed to smokes that exudes during cooking on kerosene stove, firewood or even gas ovens and pregnant women. With an already saturated and polluted air, compounded with the countless generators in almost every apartment or compound, the inflamed flight and charred bodies have added more risk to the population around the crash scene and eye-witnesses. It is observable that most people that ran to the scene of the crash had no nose mask, safety boots ...
Read more

AFTER THE STAY-AT-HOME ORDER, WHAT NEXT?

On March 26, 2020, I wrote: AFTER "STAY-AT-HOME" ORDER, WHAT NEXT? COVID-19 has exposed the absolute leadership failure in America, especially at the federal government level. From lack of empathy in crisis moment to zero inspirational words from the president of the United States.  At times like this, leaders rise up to the occasion armed with truth, facts, and inspiring words that will propel citizens to do more for the country, even without being asked. California, Colorado, New York and a few other states have asked its citizens to stay at home to slow the spread of this virus. But the real question is, what next, after this order expires? Will it be business as usual? Will bars and restaurants open for business? Will Uber and Lyft drivers pick and drop off passengers to and from their respective destinations? Will workers who administer food stamps and Medicaid be asked to see their vulnerable population? Will Silicon Valley be asked to operate as before? What next? The ...
Read more