BATTLING CORONAVIRUS AND COVID-19: AFRICAN PERSPECTIVE

The year 2020 ushered in the devastating coronavirus pandemic disease, and its rapid spread has had profound social, health and economic impact globally, causing disruption to people’s lives, communities, businesses, and health systems and economies.

Presently, an accurate estimation of human, economic, social, etc. damages caused COVID-19 is impossible, because the end of the calamity is still out of sight.

Like all other organizations—local, regional, national as well as international, IAE isn’t indifference to the ongoing lamentable situation. However, we opted to take a step back, so that we could have an in-depth view, and analysis of the situation before contributing our quota in support of our geographical area of interest—Africa, in their fight against this monstrous and deadly disease.  

COVID-19 respects no social class. Thus, we’ve seen many policy and decision-makers all over the world falling victims to this pandemic. Unlike policy-makers in most developed countries whose health system is not only highly developed, but also avoidable to the general population; that of African countries has been in absolute neglect for ages, to the detriment of the less-privilege section of the society. The rich and their families have always been flown out of their country for medical—even when they have just headache, and quite often, the cost of their treatment are being directly or indirectly paid by the tax-payers.

With the ongoing pandemic, the situation is completely different, as the rich in African society couldn’t be flown-out; thus, they’re being subjected to the treatment by the professionals whose expertise they’ve been undermining; and the sector they have been neglecting, and in some cases, even destroying.

We hope COVID-19 will force African policy and decision-makers to take public investment in the health sector in particular, and infrastructures in their country in general, very seriously, because perhaps similar predicament would happen in another sector of the society.

Next comes the issue of the proposal and suggestion from some individuals and group of individuals and organizations in some Western countries who put across the idea of testing COVID-19 vaccine in Africa. Some of the billion Dollar or Euro questions that could be asked are the followings:

• How rational is it to test the vaccine in a COVID-19 least damaging area?
• Isn’t more logical for the said test to be first done in those countries where the product is being produced, who are actually having a pitiable COVID-19 causing situation?
• As it’s often said that “Charity begins at home”, do the proponents of COVID-19 vaccine test in Africa love African population more than the members of their family, friends, and neighbors, etc. who are dying or being infected of this deadly virus daily?  

We know that there are many African leaders who have been directly or indirectly conned to accept using their population as a guinea-pig. As good leaders who supposed to lead by example, we suggest that those leaders first publicly do the test and also with their family, to demonstrate to their population of how good the test is.

In spite that presently COVID-19 isn’t as widespread in the continent as it is elsewhere, we strongly advocate the strict implementation of the universally protection guidelines by the policy-makers, and the respect of the implemented policies by the general public, to prevent catastrophic situation as it is elsewhere. Here are some of the protective guidelines:  

• Wash your hands frequently

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.

Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.

• Maintain social distance  

Maintain between 1.5 – 2 metres distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.

Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.

• Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth

Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter your body; thereby, making you sick.

• Practice respiratory hygiene
• Make sure you, and the people around you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the used tissue immediately.

Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.

• If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical care early

If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention as soon as you possible can. Follow the directions of your local health authority.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.

• Stay informed and follow advice given by your healthcare provider

Stay informed on the latest developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider, your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to protect yourself and others from COVID-19.

Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.

• Stay at home if you begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight runny nose, until you recover. Why? Avoiding contact with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible COVID-19 and other viruses.
• If you develop fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition. Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact with travelers. Why? Calling in advance will allow your health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.

As much as we support the implementation of all the above-mentioned guidelines; however, the policy of confinement in the African societies calls for serious concern. Unlike most of the Western countries where the government cares for the social welfare of all the population, in Africa, this doesn’t exist. It’s only individuals who cares for themselves and their closed and extended family. Hence, the question, “How would individuals in confinement put food on the table for his or her family?

Consequently, we implore African governments to establish a structure through which at least the less privileged in the society would be cared for in a very concrete and tangible way, so that the social damaging effect of the confinement on the precarious population would be reduced.

Coronavirus disease COVID-19 is the enemy to all, irrespective of the geographical entity, and the social class; thus, to subdue this global enemy number one, it’s imperative that solidarity and transparency across all spectrums of each society, country, regional and international organizations be order of the day. It’s important to realize that we live in an era where the world is more like a human body that when a particular part is sick, it directly or indirectly affects the rest of the body. With unity and solidarity, we can definitely win the war against coronavirus and it’s COVID-19.

Stay Home, Stay Safe! Stay Home, Stay Safe!! Stay Home, Stay Safe!!!