Coronavirus: Can Nigeria repeat the Ebola feat?

The fast spreading deadly COVID-19 disease, otherwise known as Coronavirus, is one that has no doubt caught the world unawares, leaving in its wake deaths, destruction of world economy and breaking the society’s social bond that has held nations together over the years.
For the first time in a non war situation, nations, even those considered as most friendly, are closing their borders against each other. It was somewhat unthinkable that the United States of America will shut it’s doors against 26 countries in Europe, including United Kingdom and Ireland. But that’s the reality of the times Coronavirus has brought upon us!
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country, was a late entrant in the Coronavirus scourge, and for a while, it seemed as if the nation was immune to it.
However, the country joined the league of other nations, about 160 as at the last count, that are battling to control the deadly virus that has killed over 10,000 globally, according to recent data from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
What many Nigerians however found curious was the late action by the Nigerian Government in preventing the virus in entering the country.
Many are of the opinion that if government had taken necessary tough actions it is now taking that the scare is getting real, the country would have been spared the current realities on ground.
As at Friday, 20th of March, Nigeria had 12 positive cases, though two were said to have recovered from the virus and tested negative.
However, the scary part is the fact that the Lagos State Government said it was tracing about 1300 contacts of the new cases that had tested positive. We are all aware of the nature of Lagos and its huge population, the hustling and bustling, the unplanned movements and lack of proper delineation of roads and streets in the state.
Tracing the contacts as huge as 1300 may present a major challenge to the state government and put several thousands, if not millions at risk.
The way and manner the country, especially the Lagos State Government handled the Ebola outbreak few years ago, caught the attention of other nations with commendations. The question now is, can we reenact the feat?
Is Nigeria ready and are our policy makers serious in tackling the current scourge? Can we rise to the occasion again and make the rest of the world proud of our health professionals?
The answer to these questions lay squarely with the Nigerian government both at the federal and state levels!
The competence of Nigerian medical professionals is not in doubt but the efficacy of their competence is directly dependent of good and proactive statements and actions by Nigerian policy makers.
Though a number of policy statements have been made, some came a little bit late! The travel ban placed on 15 countries tagged high risk countries, including the United States, United Kingdom, China and Italy, amongst others, could have come much earlier. This could have saved the country the current 12 positive cases in the country.
Closely following also is the flurry of closure of religious gatherings, clubs, schools and others by both the federal and state governments. These actions are no doubt welcome but much more needs to be done to ensure that the virus do not spread and become uncontrollable.
Mention must particularly be made of the needed action in respect of markets, mass transit buses and the very notorious Lagos ‘Danfo’ buses.
For those who are conversant with the workings of markets and the transportation system in Lagos and most urban cities in the country, failure to control them, may just be an invitation for the worst in the ongoing outbreak of Coronavirus.
If Nigeria must overcome the current Coronavirus scourge, just like the Ebola scare, there is an urgent need for the Nigerian Government to put its acts together and work in a concerted manner in such a way that is reminiscent of how the Lagos State Government handled Ebola.
Facilities must be put in place and medical professionals must be well motivated, with adequate equipments to fight the scourge to a stand still.
It also came to light on Friday while the Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire was answering questions from journalists during a press briefing he had in Abuja, that the country was not actually prepared for the Coronavirus outbreak. From his answers, the only centre in the country that can adequately handle the virus is the Infectious Diseases Centre in Yaba, Lagos.
According to him, government is currently building one in Gwagwalada, Abuja. This is despite the fact the the nation has several teaching hospitals where sections could have been upgraded to handle such an outbreak as the Coronavirus, especially with the skilled medical manpower in those tertiary medical institutions.
It is the hope of the average Nigerian that their government will rise to the occasion and work for their interest for once!