Nigeria’s Version Of COVID-19

BY SIMON REEF MUSA

Since our country’s health ministry officials announced the arrival of Coronavirus at our shores, Nigerians are yet to be agreed on whether the first index case of the infection is still the same as COVID-19 epidemic that has killed more than 320,000 people worldwide. Nearly three months after its arrival in our country, not less than 220 Nigerians have died from the deadly infection.

Alarmed by the devastation of the pandemic in Europe and the United States, multi-billionaire Bill Gates had predicted mass deaths on the streets of Africa. Three months after the infections made its entrance into Africa, the death rate of the infection in Africa has witnessed a slower climb to the roof. Amidst the confusion that has trailed the management of the epidemic, African has come out a purveyor for managing the pandemic. Madagascar has come up with herbal cure that is attracting global attention.

Nigeria, the supposed giant of Africa, had made noise before the arrival of infection, insisting the country as fully prepapred for the pandemic. When the disease finally arrived, it was confusion personified as the Presidential Task Force (PTF) under the leadership of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr Boss Mustapha, resorted to simply updating COVID-19 spread and number of death on a daily basis. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has been the megaphone for unveiling the dangers and spread of the disease across the country.

As for what government is doing to combat the pandemic, the PTF has remained mute. When news filtered that Madagascar had sent to the country its herbal cures for COVID-19, the PTF said it was not in a hurry to try it. Despite claims that some Nigerians have discovered cures for the infection, nothing has been done to either verify or test the efficacy of the cure.

Following various clampdowns by states to combat the infection, there are more fears than understanding the virus. Many states are either adopting certain measures to attract funding to fight the virus or simply attracting funding to deal with the problem. The confusion and misconception about the infection is not only painful but has further elongated the journey in finding a cure for the infection.

There are so many factors that stand in the way for resolving the current pandemic. Apart from inadequacy of health personnel and equipment in the nation, the deteriorating conditions of health facilities are pointers that the road to fighting the virus is tedious and almost insurmountable.

It seems obvious that the solution to the pandemic is more seen on the pages of newspapers than on ground. In a situation where health workers are in the front line against the infection, the decision by the Kaduna State Government to cut down their salaries by 25 per cent without consultation, is uninspiring. With the health workers’ union insisting on strike, there is no doubt that the days ahead may turn out dark as the state continues to wage its war against the unseen enemy.

The coming of Coronavirus to Nigeria has exposed the rot in our health system and clearly buttress the dangers of a weak health system built on corrupt structures. With a population of 200 million people, Nigeria still cannot boast of 20 testing centres for COVID-19 cases. Britain, with about 60 million, has over 250 testing centres with an efficient health system manned by qualified health personnel. Though the Federal Government has announced that it would set up testing centres in all the 774 local government areas in the country, there is no present efforts at concertizing this promise.

Beyond calls by the Federal Government on states to ensure strict monitoring on ban in inter-state movements, there is complete absence of exit-strategies by the government. More painful, the so-called palliatives promised have continued to gulp billions of naira, with most of the beneficiaries still unseen and unknown as is the infection in Nigeria.

Recently, a video clip of one of the isolation centres went viral where patients were seen dancing and singing. Considering what goes behind the scene, it is obvious that the COVID-19 pandemic is less deadly and merciful towards many of our citizens suffering from the epidemic. As the shutdown and controversies associated with the management of the disease continue unabated, it is clear that our nation is suffering from a milder COVID-19 that does not kill, but has become a tool in the hands of politicians to siphon public funds.

There seems to be a justification in saying that the COVID-19 pandemic in other countries is not the same with the one afflicting Nigeria. The infection in Nigeria responds to free days when citizens are allowed to go to market to buy and sell. Going by the number of patients that have been treated of Coronavirus, it is clear that we have taken a case of malaria for COVID-19. There are questions to ask: Why is it that everyone that has malaria most times is also diagnosed as COVID-19 pandemic? Why is it that both malaria and COVID-19 have the same treatment?

Last week, a man in one of the Southern states was hauled into an isolation centre, after he was diagnosed of the deadly infection. Few hours after he was taken, the health officials returned and took his entire family to join him. Three days later, he was told to return home as his wife and four children were declared healthy as a fiddle.

The man refused to go home, insisting his family members were still unwell. Despite appeals from health workers to leave the treatment centre, he remained adamant. According to him, “This is government’s money. So, I must spend the two-week period so that I and my family can eat our part of the national cake.”

Nigeria may continue to hide in the present hypocritical health emergency of fighting the virus, but it must not be oblivious of the fact that sooner or later, it cannot continue on this path for too long. The reality is closing on us and those who have contributed to paint our country as enmeshed in a pandemic should note that their time is running out.

Our ability to rise above the storm of COVID-19 will not depend on the outside world but on our capacity to evolve home-grown solutions to overcome an infection that shares similar symptoms with malaria.