The health sector of every Nation is a major determinant force of growth, development and advancement in its economy. Industrialization thrives more in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in all sectors, that of health inclusive. A troubled health sector equals a sick citizenry whose abilities towards activities of buying and selling get crippled with obvious realities of down turned system and processes.
It’s not long news that Covid-19 has successfully encroached negatively on the prowess of economic and political powers of first world countries like China and USA, including Third World countries like Nigeria. It has hampered constant flow of trades amongst Nations of the world, international relations not exclusive. All over the Globe, people have been forced to live isolated lives , pending when the pandemic‘s wild spread comes under Control.
The health sector of every Nation is a major determinant force of growth, development and advancement in its economy. Industrialization thrives more in an atmosphere of peace and tranquillity in all sectors, that of health inclusive. A troubled health sector equals a sick citizenry whose abilities towards activities of buying and selling get crippled with obvious realities of down turned system and processes.
It’s not long news that Covid-19 has successfully encroached negatively on the prowess of economic and political powers of first world countries like China and USA, including Third World countries like Nigeria. It has hampered constant flow of trades amongst Nations of the world, international relations not exclusive. All over the Globe, people have been forced to live isolated lives , pending when the pandemic‘s wild spread comes under Control.
February 28, 2020, the first case of Corona Virus was recorded of an Italian citizen who works in Nigeria and returned from Milan on the 25th of February 2020. Like wild fire, the virus has continued to spread across the length and breath of 34 States of the Nations, excluding Kogi and Cross River.
Worthy of note is the last update on the virus by the National Centre for Disease Control which states that Nigeria presently has over 6,175 confirmed cases of Corona virus. This calls for a reflection on the modalities put in place through which NCDC is fighting the scourge.
In what looks like a twist to the generally accepted knowledge, some Nigerians do not believe its existence with proofs, positing of the similarities between acute fever symptoms and that of the virus. Some have openly faced cameras to confess of the fact that Covid -19 is nothing but a game being played by bourgeoisie to milk up the wealth of the Nation meant to care for societal proletariats.
Daily Trust Newspaper on the 28th day of March 2020 reported that the Speaker of Plateau State House of Assembly said that the people of the State don’t believe the existence of any disease called Corona Virus as they vehemently declined the new rules of staying at home and observing social distance. In the same vein, Gov. Obaseki of Edo State was captured in a video on the 19th of April 2020 saying that the people of the area don’t believe the pandemic, so they go about their normal activities despite the laws put in place by the State Government.
Times without number, a lot of videos circulated the social media space where Nigerians were calling NCDC names, claiming that Corona Virus is a money making tool for big wigs in Nigeria’s political space. Some call it the Covid-19 conspiracy theory which they explain to be a merchant idea of those at the helms of top health agencies meant to care for the lives of innocent citizens of Nigeria.
Well, these opinion might not be from far from the reality as most of their claims are veritable when you want to ask some questions about the operations of NCDC. What’s the difference between the symptoms of Covid-19 and Acute fever? Has fever not killed more persons than any other disease in Nigeria, what drugs did NCDC use to treat those who’ve been discharged, why didn’t they make it public, how many testing centres do we have and where are they located? These questions call for urgent and sincere answers if we are serious.
The bomb of all was when NCDC officials were welcomed to Kogi State by the Governor at the banquet hall of Government house. On a welcome note, his Excellency Governor Yahaya Bello ordered the officials to obey their own rules of 14days isolation before carrying out any function and it became a public uproar. The Governor noted of a business intention with Covid – 19, drawing an inference from the demand of some billions of Naira kano State Government made to FG upon surfacing cases of the disease in the State.
In Cross River State, Gov Ben Ayade in line with NCDC’s directives told the visiting team to isolate themselves for 14 days before commencing any job, just like Kogi State Governor’s experience, he was thrown up in a social media agog for such instruction. In a video, the Governor questioned most of the activities of NCDC in line with the ones asked by the author of this piece. At some points, the Disease control organization was bent on manoeuvring every available means to declare the two States as part of the affected ones even when available realities are against it.
How about the Covid-19’s victims kept in an isolation centre who protested and took over Gombe State’s high-ways for ill and poor treatment by the centre as reported by Premium Times on the 5th of May 2020, are they really victims, didn’t the Government provide for their welfare, what happened to the resources pushed out to that effect, who and who are at the forefront of such arrangement? There’s need for answers.
It’s time for us to unite against the enemies of our common patrimony called Nigeria, if the cases are real, FG should act in line with public health laws. NCDC ought to be working transparently for the purpose of trust worthiness. Treating and discharging people without the revelation of the drugs used looks like a politically played game.
Also, trying to declare a State free of the disease to be among the infected looks fishy and suspicious. Funds disbursed to the effect of Covid -19 must be accounted for when the hyped plague is over. Just like Ebola, Bird flu and Lassa Fever came and we dealt with them sincerely, FG should ensure that NCDC works with countries who succeed in fighting it by hiring their services for internal cleansing of same.
The recent uproar about the Chinese Doctors who doubtly came to help the country shouldn’t be taken for granted, presently we don’t know where they are, as such shouldn’t be heard of a Nation gazing at greatness.
Creating fear in citizens’ hearts for an outbreak is an intentional wickedness aimed at pushing many into untimely graves, a country with sound health experts who understand the effect fear over hypertensive people shouldn’t engage in such. This was the point of Gov. Yahaya Bello while speaking to NCDC staff in Government house. Permeating veneration amongst a people kills faster than the plague it self. Don’t merchandise the plague for your interest
