Written By: ELLIS IDEMOBI

The outbreak of the novel coronavirus disease in the city of Wuhan, China towards the end of last year was unprecedented and indeed took the global medical community by surprise. This pandemic, otherwise called Covid-19, has brought devastation and death with attendant social and economic disruptions on a scale that has not been seen since the Spanish Flu of 1915. It has humbled some of the best organized and well-funded health systems globally.

The outlook for Africa is equally frightening. Nigeria has not been spared by the pandemic. Nigerian authorities and the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) have put in place rigorous responses to contain the spread of the coronavirus infection in the country. These measures have been in place for over three weeks, yet the infection rate has been increasing rapidly across the federation since the index case of an Italian was confirmed on February 27, 2020.

Despite the fact that the rate of new cases has been in upward swing, even with the lockdown and other protocols, experts say that without these efforts Nigeria would have by now entered into uncontrollable stage of the infection with catastrophic consequences.

Almost all the states of Nigeria, including our dear Anambra State have put in place so many robust responses, including sit-at-home, total lockdown and several compulsory coronavirus protocols to prevent and contain an outbreak.

In Anambra State, the prevention, protection and containment systems put in place by the state government have yielded a lot of dividends in securing Ndi Anambra against the deadly coronavirus disease. Even with an index case, analysts have agreed that authorities in Anambra State have done a wonderful job in proactive prevention and containment strategies that have so far protected the people from the infection. In particular, the sit at home, total or partial lockdown of the state, regular hand washing, compulsory face masks for everyone in public places and other coronavirus protocols are difficult measures, but highly needed if there is to be any hope of containing the spread of the disease.

It would therefore be in the over-all interest of everyone to support government efforts and abide strictly by government directives. Coronavirus is real with immense impact on the health and wellbeing on the general populace and we all have a collective responsibility to contribute our quota in dealing with this scourge.

No doubt, some of these containment efforts, particularly the sit-at-home and lockdown orders are affecting peoples’ income and livelihood. Though they have brought hardships, but these are necessary evil to protect the lives and future livelihood of the people

There is no trade-off between life and livelihood because people must be alive to earn income. The only practical means of avoiding mass death from this pandemic is for everyone to join hands with the government on rigorous preventive measures to contain the spread of the virus.

Indeed, many erroneously think it is the state government’s business to get rid of the pandemic so that life goes back to normal. People who think this way may have ignored the global reality as we see them today.

We must therefore all join hands with the State and Federal Governments to reduce the rate of infection and substantially reduce fatalities predicted to arise from the pandemic and adhere strictly to the lockdown restrictions and other pandemic protocols.

Please, stay safe; stay at home to stay alive. Let’s join in the effort of government to check the spread of COVID-19 in our dear state.

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