For Nigeria as a country, the global spread of coronavirus comes with certain realities. It exposes our strength, vulnerability, and level of preparedness to global emergency situation. Over the years, Nigeria’s investments in healthcare have been far from any commendation. In fact, Nigeria remains a serial defaulter of the Abuja Declaration. The 2020 budget allocation for health is less than five percent yet the declaration raised a benchmark of 15 percent for healthcare.
In spite its not-too-encouraging commitment to healthcare investment, the Federal Government deserves a pat on the back so far, over efforts rolled out to contain the spread of the pandemic coronavirus. Efforts so far are commendable. IMPACT NEWS is however concerned about the level of negligence displayed by public officials in charge of managing this global health crisis.
While major countries across the globe took steps and measures to prevent the import of the virus into their countries by restricting flights, Nigeria in whatever name and reason declined to do such. The government’s refusal to ensure strict restriction of movement into the country via our ports exposed us as a country to the first index case.
Perhaps if our officials place premium on safety and health concern of Nigerians, our challenge would be about preventing importation of the virus rather than containment and spread that we have at hand at the moment.
IMPACT NEWS understands that for a pandemic situation as this, international diplomacy is a crucial factor when making national decisions that include border closure, visa issuance and flight restrictions. Yet we ask, what should of fundamental importance to the government? Business, Foreign Direct Investment, or the lives of all Nigerians? At this critical period, the lives of every Nigerian are worth more than any FDI the government longs for.
Today Nigeria has nothing less than 12 confirmed cases of the virus. Considering how mobile Nigerians are, the numbers may be more if the elusive nature of the virus is anything to go by. We are further concerned about the level of preparedness of states across the county for possible detection of the virus. Few states are ready with little or no facilities to accommodate patients that may be infected. While this virus is over 3 months old in spread, Nigeria is least preparing for possible outbreak. We do not pray for the worse but as a country, while we put our hope in optimism, we should be prepared for the worse. One can only imagine the disaster waiting to happen if this virus becomes epidemic in the country.
In China, where the virus and epidemic originated from, flights into major cities have been restricted to prevent importation, after the government has been able to contain the spread. It is unfortunate that we have allowed our penchant for misplacement of priorities crept into healthcare issues and decisions. We challenge the federal government to own up to its negligence of not “over reacting” to saving the lives of Nigerians.
The head of the World Health Organization (WHO), Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has said that Africa must “wake up” to the coronavirus threat and prepare for the worst.
He said that the continent should learn from how the spread of virus has sped up elsewhere, warning that while Africa’s confirmed cases were currently low – around 640 – there was no reason for complacency.
We therefore advise that the federal government should provide free preventive kits for all Nigerians, mount consistent advocacy on the need to maintain personal hygiene to prevent infection and the spread of the deadly virus.
We hope this unfortunate time would pass with no frightening casualty recorded in the country.
