As Nigeria Grapples With Coronavirus Pandemic

Adeze Ojukwu 

Coronavirus has forced the world to an unprecedented halt, leaving in its wake an avalanche of deaths and bitter lessons. Among them is the momentum to revamp the global public health structure. The sector has long been groaning for change, in countries, such as Nigeria. That change, has undoubtedly commenced. 

But it has come at a phenomenal cost, precipitated by the dreaded virus, codenamed COVID-19. It is spurring an international action to advance human life and economic empowerment.  As  nations report new cases, World Health Organization(WHO) harps on physical distancing, hand washing, early testing and treatment. 

The pandemic has obviously, reached a tipping point, with community transmissions threatening high density populations.

The crises has accentuated  weaknesses in clinical services  across nations. Many hospitals lack essential supplies and protective equipment, even for front line care workers.

During 2014 Ebola epidemic,  American philanthropist and  Microsoft co-founder, Bill Gates upbraided leaders for paying scant attention to this vital sector. Today the world is traumatized for this unjustifiable negligence. ‘If anything kills over 10 million people in the next few decades, it’s most likely to be a highly infectious virus rather than a war – not missiles, but microbes,’ he warned. ‘We have invested a huge amount in nuclear deterrents, but we’ve actually invested very little in a system to stop an epidemic,” he explained. ‘Clearly, we’re not ready for the next epidemic. We don’t  have a system to deal with the next epidemic,’ he warned. ‘World Economic Forum(WEF) simulation, in October 2019 showed we are unprepared for a pandemic, but it’s not too late to work together on COVID-19,’ he added. President of the forum, Børge Brende made similar submissions.  ‘What did we learn? We are woefully unprepared. COVID-19 is the whole world’s problem and the most serious threat to global health security in decades.’ ‘COVID-19 demands global co-operation among governments, international organizations and the business community.’The group’s Global Health Security leader, Ryan Morhard, said ‘outbreaks of infectious diseases are inevitable, but the economic damage is not.’ ‘Sustained attention from a broad multistakeholder coalition is needed in advance of a severe pandemic to save lives and minimize economic and societal consequences,’ he stressed.

Indeed such a multi-sectorial synergy can de-escalate humongous health emergencies. Millions of people remain vulnerable, while hundreds of doctors and nurses have died, despite  billions of funds released to combat the epidemic.

The world has never witnessed such a monumental humanitarian-cum-economic disaster, in recent history. Not even the Spanish flu had this tsunami-like force.  Even the most sophisticated countries are petrified and overwhelmed.Indeed no nation was fully prepared for an emergency of this magnitude, as efforts to stop the virulent devil seem deficient.

With millions of cases worldwide, United States(US), the epicenter,  has the highest numbers, followed by Italy, Spain, France and Germany. China, which reported lower rates, has been widely criticised for lack of transparency and racial discriminations against people of African descent in Guangzhou over a resurgence.

In Africa, the situation looks  grim and complex. Its peculiar  exigencies, pose serious factors for exponential spread of the disease especially in slums and conflict zones.

Nigeria, with its intractable poverty and defective leadership is inundated. Government’s characteristic inertia over critical issues may have compounded the burden.

The country is currently facing grave consequences, for failing to respond promptly to early warning signals from  experts to impose quarantine and containment regulations.

Relevant agencies are scurrying  to curb its foray into rural communities, mostly bereft of basic social-cum-health facilities and  surveillance systems.  Director of the Africa Centre for Disease Control (ACDC), Dr John Nkengasong said despite expansion of testing capacities and extensive training for medical workers, the region lacks critical emergency supplies notably ventilators. In an interview with John Hopkin’s Bloomberg School of Public Health, Dr  Nkengasong said: ‘We are in the morning of the outbreak at the moment. China is in the sunset. However I think our situation is getting complicated.’

Nkengasong, a virologist who worked for over two decades in the US CDC  continued.‘I am very worried about the virus seeding itself into vulnerable communities, like in the slums of most capital cities, or in refugee camps. There are quite a good number across the continent. That would be a big challenge.’ Latest report from Africa Center for Strategic Studies, identified  risk factors in the region as ‘international exposure, weak health system, urban density and  population. Others are population age, government transparency, press freedom, conflict and internally displaced persons.’

‘This multilayered risk portfolio underscores the vulnerabilities and the importance of limiting spread of the virus before it extends to high density settings.’

‘With high levels of poverty, weak health systems, and crowded urban areas, the virus could be particularly devastating. However some argued that  Africa’s warmer climate, youthful population, and experience in fighting infectious diseases,’ enable it to overcome the scourge,’ it stated. Sadly the region is saddled with endemic socio-economic plagues. Nigeria, for instance,  recorded its index case through international exposure, but witnessed a rapid spread, due to ineffective management.

Opposition parties and critics blame Federal Government for failure to enforce adequate restrictions of land borders and international flights, thus exacerbating the infirmity. Coronavirus  has further unmasked the nation’s  decrepit health framework. A recent statement attributed to Secretary to Federal Government and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce (PTF) on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha is revelatory. ‘I can tell you for sure, I never knew that our entire healthcare infrastructure was in the state in which it is, until I was appointed to do this work.’

Several decades of inadequate health investments have diminished the country’s capacity to grapple with basal medical conditions.

Maj (Ret.) Iwuozo Obilo summed it succinctly. ‘This pandemic has put our shared humanity into sharper focus and exposed decades of greed, selfishness, and malfeasance perpetrated by politicians on the nation, not just the poor, so easily forgotten.’

It is  time for government to utilize the nation’s enormous wealth for the greater good of the populace.

Easter celebration amid COVID-19 pandemic

Adeze Ojukwu 

Billions of Christians worldwide will on Sunday commemorate the Christian feast of Easter despite the catastrophic impact of coronavirus. Following the exponential spread of the virus, codenamed COVID-19, the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared it a pandemic, calling for social distancing, self-isolation and aggressive distribution of test kits and medications to developing nations.  With the activation of pandemic alert mode most churches cancelled mass gatherings, including Easter festivities. Hence millions of Christians will stay at home for the festival, due to the health crises ravaging the world and plundering economies.

A few weeks ago, the Vatican officially announced that ‘its traditional Easter week celebrations would be held, without worshippers, due to the coronavirus. All liturgical celebrations of Holy Week will take place without the physical presence of the faithful till April 12.’

Other leaders imposed similar quarantine measures. In Nigeria the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) directed religious groups to suspend large gatherings.  According to Catholic News Service, dioceses around the world banned public masses to ‘flatten the curve,’ and ease the burden on the health care system.
Bishops in Quebec, Canada said the efforts will ‘contribute to this joint public health effort in solidarity with the authorities.’

With the unprecedented lock-down across nations, this Easter is understandably solemn and moody. The pandemic, which started last November in Wuhan, China, has petrified several nations and crippled their economies.

Never in recent history has the world, witnessed such monumental damage from a viral infection, reminiscent of the early twentieth century influenza. Most countries halted sports, academic and religious activities, while several air and rail services were disrupted.

The global economy has virtually crashed, with prices of crude oil, stocks and products plummeting.

As global leaders grapple with the epidemic and resultant economic-cum-humanitarian effects, several countries are still in lock-down.

Billions of people across all continents remain in confinement, with the spiking of death toll from the consumptive respiratory contagion, in Europe and the United States (US).  In Italy, the epicenter of the pandemic, streets remain bare, while churches are bereft of worshippers. With this disaster, many faithful, as the rest of the world are grief-stricken, despite the resurrection memorial. Indeed the scourge marred the high spirits, shopping spree and merriment that traditionally accompany Easter, the second most important Christian festival, after Christmas.

The brazen pestilence, has not only petrified communities, but has raised fears about possible onset of end-time catastrophes, depicted in Matthew 24. The resurrection of Jesus from the dead, captured vividly by the four gospels, is believed to have occurred on the third day, following his crucifixion, at Calvary 30 AD, according to bible history.  Usually the Holy Week, particularly in orthodox churches, is characterised by Maundy Thursday, commemorating Last Supper, as well as Good Friday, a memorial of Christ’s death.

In the West, the season begins on Easter Sunday and ends with Pentecost Sunday on the 50th day, while Eastern orthodoxy, begins with the celebration and ends with the Ascension on the 40th day, according to theologians.

The joy of this momentous miracle is the culmination of the suffering of Jesus, reflected in Lent, a 40-day period of fasting, prayer and penance, prior to his rise. The sobriety of this Easter reflects society’s grief, as several communities bury the dead, scratch for food and reel over the monumental tragedy. Amidst this unprecedented calamity, Christians are encouraged to trust the divine for protection and comfort, over tribulations and vulnerabilities. The viral disease may have marred the convivial celebration, but it could not scorch the eternal symbolism of Easter to humanity and divinity.  Many believers still observed the day because of its centrality to the faith.

Christ’s resurrection remains the pinnacle of the church, more so in trying times, because his triumphant victory over death offers believers irrefutable assurance of peace and eternal life.
The widespread consternation has in a way displayed the downside of humanity.

All mortals are subject to death, hence the need for all to prepare for heaven, because this ephemeral orbit and its glories are passing away. The Bible clearly depicts the earthly abode as a temporary site. The permanent residence for mankind is heaven for the righteous in Christ. Hell is the final destination of those who reject Christ, as Lord and saviour in their lifetime. This is the message of Easter and the hope of saints.

Certainly, Christ’s defeat of Satan and the gates of Hades, remains a beacon of joy to his followers, because humans are born with the foreboding yoke of death and disease. Despite the absence of the usual drama that accompany the festival, the ethos of Christ’s death and resurrection is significant today, especially with phenomenal epidemics, social crises and economic woes.

However some theologians say these tragedies often drive some people to embrace Christ and God, due to fear of uncertainties.

Undoubtedly the victory of Christ over death, offers everlasting tonic to man’s dread, in a world of instabilities and misery. Sadly Christians, share in this mass desolation and still bear a disproportionate burden of hostilities for preaching and upholding Christ’s gospel, as the panacea for salvation. These persecutions are mostly prevalent in Middle East, North Korea, India, China and parts of Africa.

In Nigeria, Christians in the north live precariously, due to terrorist attacks by dreaded Boko Haram and other Islamic extremist groups.  Leah Sharibu is still held by Boko Haram, allegedly for refusing to renounce Christ and embrace Islam. Sharibu’s case and the religious-cum-cultural related savagery in the region, continue to raise national and international concerns.  Several world leaders and prominent clerics have repeatedly denounced these atrocities. However believers are encouraged to forgive their persecutors, as Jesus did. ‘Father forgive them for they know not what they do.’

Clearly, Christians should forgive and pray for their enemies, as epitomized by Jesus, Joseph and Job. Indeed persecutions, tragedies including the virulent Coronavirus, cannot rob Easter of its significance to believers. This is quite pertinent in this sombre Eastertide and its fiery circumstances reverberating man’s fragility and life’s brevity.