According to Octavia Spencer, the best way to bring about change is to be proactive and active. This is because it is better to light a candle than curse the darkness. Governor Willie Obiano, by all standards, is a proactive leader. He changes what he can and manages what he cannot. That is one of the attributes of a proactive leader.

It is heartening that long before the eruption of the dreaded COVID-19 pandemic, Governor Obiano thought it wise to set up the biggest and best Oxygen Production plant in the South East at COOU Teaching Hospital, Amaku, which has started to pay off. When he made that investment, he had no idea that sooner than later, Oxygen would become such a priceless commodity. Today, he has donated 50 Cubic meters of oxygen to select hospitals in the state to help in the fight against the pandemic.

It is no longer news that the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic is currently sweeping across the world. The second wave is not only turbulent but even more deadly. It is more deadly because after struggling with the pandemic for nine months, people dropped their level of vigilance and returned to their normal lives. Thus, the virus has come back with renewed viciousness, claiming many lives.

Anambra state government has, commendably, done its best to stem the tide. Since the index case was reported in the state on April 9, 2020, Anambra managed the pandemic so well that in November last year, it was rated as one of the states with the lowest number of positive results in Nigeria. As at December last year, Anambra had no new cases of COVID-19 and no patients in the Protective Care Centers and none on home treatment.

Ndi Anambra were doing just fine until the second wave of the pandemic crept in. However, this second wave did not come by surprise. Obiano’s regime is proactive. It was monitoring global trends on the pandemic and the government saw it coming. The wise men and women in cabinet anticipated that the second wave would hit the state hard because of the well-known culture of mass return during the Christmas and New Year season.

So, Akpokuedike directed that efforts be made efforts to prepare the people to mitigate the impending challenge. Hence, wide consultations and town-hall meetings were held with the Igwes, the religious leaders, civil society organizations, leaders of market task force, transport operators and other stakeholders. During these meetings, the need to revive all the structures that helped the state survive the first wave of the pandemic was emphasized.

Sadly, the warnings fell on deaf ears. People allowed themselves to be carried away by the joy of the Yuletide. They failed to maintain the COVID-19 protocols. Today, we are faced with a clear danger. This is not good at all. Therefore, all hands must be on deck to halt the spread.

Governor Obiano, in his latest broadcast on the second wave, stated that his administration had taken some decisions to stamp out the renewed spread of this pandemic before it gains a serious advantage. He directed that all government offices must observe the standard COVID-19 protocols such as washing of hands at the entrance, wearing of facemasks, regular use of hand sanitizers and strict observance of physical distancing.

Nobody should be allowed into any government premises without properly wearing a face mask. No one should equally step outside their homes without wearing a facemask. The ban on nightclubs is still firmly in place. Hotels are directed to ensure strict compliance to COVID-19 protocols. There should not be more than 50 people in any public gathering.

The COVID-19 Action Teams in all the markets must ensure full compliance to the standard COVID-19 protocols. They must set up a hand-washing point at the entrance to each market, take the temperature of visitors to the markets and ensure that both traders and their customers are wearing their facemasks properly. Notably, the Governor directed that transport operators must revert to all the practices that helped during the first wave of the pandemic. They must ensure physical distancing inside the vehicles.

Above all, people are encouraged to go for COVID-19 test. Early detection forestalls mortality and testing is free. Anambra holds the record of the shortest turnaround time in the country today. Let us increase our chances of surviving this scourge by obeying the safety standards of COVID-19.

BARR. CHUKS EZEWUZIE

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