We cannot be in a denial about the Public Health emergency over the Anxiety As Kano Records 23 High Profile Deaths In 24hrs. There is the fear of death currently rampaging the ancient city of Kano. News spread on Saturday that various prominent people died, some from the Coronavirus, others from an unknown disease. Among those who passed on yesterday was Professor of Economics and former chairman of National Economic Intelligence Committee, Ibrahim Ayagi, who died at the age of 80. The CEO of Hassan Gwarzo School was said to have been ill for some time. Others are the Dean, faculty of Basic Medicine, of Maitama Sule University, Professor Ali Abdulaziz Dikko; former chairman, former executive secretary of Kano SUBEB, Alhaji Adamu Iliyasu Dal; Grand Khadi of Kano, Dahiru Rabiu; Musa Umar Gwarzo and a former editor of LEADERSHIP Sunday and editor of the state-owned Triumph Newspaper, Musa Tijjani who died at the age of 63.
Other deaths recorded yesterday include the elder brother to former deputy governor Abdullahi Gwarzo, Alhaji Salisu Lado; Hajiya Shamsiyya Mustapha; Hajiya Nene Umma, Alhaji Garba Sarki Fagge; secretary, Students Affairs, North West University Kano, Dr. Nasiru Maikano Bichi; Prof Aliyu Umar Dikko of Physiology Department, Bayero University Kano; First Bank regional manager, Abdullahi Lawal, Alhaji Rabiu Dambatta; Kabir Ibrahim Bayero; Alhaji Idi Mai Lemo Sheka; mother of renowned businessman, Ado Gwanja and Capt. Abdullahi Gyadi Gyadi, among others. They were buried yesterday according to Muslim rites. Although there is nothing linking the strange deaths to Coronavirus, residents of the state mourn.
Public Health Dimension
There are several predicting factors that can be associated with this strange dead, first it’s the almighty pandemic ‘’ Covid19’’, secondly is the ecosystem of a seasonal endemic called the Meningococcal Meningitis with both are fuel by overcrowding, lack of personal hygiene and malnutrition among other factors. We must not also deny the fact that a lot of dead can be associated with Hunger as a result of the Lockdown Policy. Sadly, the Kano State’s Task Force on Covid-19 is in disarray since several of its key members went into quarantine after testing positive for the virus, this vacuum in leadership has resulted in the very slow response and testing by the State’s Rapid Response team resulting in increasing fatality particularly among the elderly. It is the socioeconomic consequences of this pandemic that scares me more than the virus itself. How well it is handled now will determine this outcome. Clearly, Kano city is in serious trouble and the political leadership is in dire need of help from the Federal government, it’s citizens and the whole nation.
I call on the Federal government to act now with all sense of urgency by mobilizing resources to Kano to achieve the following remedies before it is too late.
1. Perform Autopsy on all bodies before burial to ascertain the cause of dead
2. Humane but strict enforcement of Social Distancing measures with the Provision of foodstuffs and palliatives to enable people to stay at home and suspend the total lockdown because that alone will promote overcrowding and disease transmission dynamics will be high in cases of Meningitis and Covid19
3. Establish Diagnostic centers across Kano State and aggressive case finding by increasing testing and isolating those found positive
4. Provision of adequate PPEs to healthcare workers, Provision of adequate Drugs & Consumables to hospitals and Provision of more hospital & ICU bed spaces and Ventilators to hospitals
5. Employment of more healthcare workers like Nurses, Microbiologist, Biochemist and Community Health Extension Workers (CHEWS) to assist in contact tracing
6. Aggressive public education with Active engagement of Traditional, Religious and community leaders
NCDC and FGN need to shift focus urgently to Kano, which possibly may become Nigeria’s next Covid-19 ground zero and investigate the spate of unexplained deaths.
I had earlier warned that not responding robustly now, will in the longer term, cost Nigeria more financially, materially, morally and certainly, in terms of human casualties.
“When COVID-19 hits Nigeria fully, the challenge and national mobilization needed to respond adequately will require the replication of another civil war situation capacity,” warning that, “We are gradually gravitating to that moment of shock.
May God comfort the families and all of us.
By
Akyala Ishaku Ph.D
Public Health Expert, Epidemiologist and a Virologist
