Countries around the world have been stepping up efforts to curtail the spread of the novel coronavirus, which originated in Wuhan, a Chinese city in December 2019 and has claimed more than 3,300 lives globally.
Officially named COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation, the virus has been caught by more 95,000 persons in over 80 countries. The disease is a major public health issue, as more countries are joining the list of infected.
Several scientific researches are ongoing to find the best means to curtail the spread. China, where the coronavirus broke out from took the lead, building a 1,000-bed hospital in record time to treat patients. The country also developed test kits to detect the virus and vaccines to cure the disease. Massive preventive measures were also launched in that country.
Nigeria got on the coronavirus list when an Italian citizen, who works with Lafarge, a cement company in Ogun State, flew into Lagos from Milan, Italy, on February 25 and tested positive after presenting symptoms of the disease.
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Health authorities in Lagos where the Italian is being treated say he is in stable condition.
Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, disclosed last Friday that 21 persons, who had contact with the Italian in Lagos and 40 others in Ogun State were under self-isolation and being monitored.
Dr. Ehanire also said that a total of 21 suspected cases had been identified across four states, Lagos, Ogun, FCT and Kano between January 7 and March 5.
He said so far only the index case was confirmed positive.
Many states governments and federal agencies have expressed the preparedness to combat the infection.
President Muhammadu Buhari has also called on citizens and responsible government agencies to be vigilant. He urged citizens not to panic but observe the advisories on the disease disseminated by the Ministry of Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and the World Health Organisation (WHO).
The coronavirus outbreak and the quick spread across territories call for serious, desperate measures. We commend the governments for their assurances and steps taken to contain the spread.
We, however, observe that the zeal which has been shown since the advent to the coronavirus is lacking in the handling of some of the more deadly diseases and conditions, which have been ravaging our country and causing otherwise preventable deaths of young and old citizens.
For instance, just as the coronavirus is making waves across the world, Nigeria also has the endemic Lassa fever outbreak to contend with.
According to the NCDC, 775 infections had been recorded this year and 132 lives lost to the disease.
Cases of the disease had been reported in 26 of the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory and between February 24 and March 1 alone, 11 fatalities were recorded from 85 new confirmed cases.
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With 17 per cent fatality rate and the spread, Lassa fever is a more serious health issue, but the attention it is receiving and awareness among the citizens do not reflect that it is an emergency.
A report by the United States Embassy estimated the malaria cases recorded in Nigeria annually at 100 million with over 300,000 deaths. These figures look scary enough for the government at all levels to declare an emergency against malaria. But we have yet to see sustained efforts to stop malaria deaths and make the country malaria-free.
Other diseases and conditions leading to avoidable deaths among Nigerians include HIV/AIDS; maternal mortality; hypertension leading to sudden deaths or stroke and chronic kidney disease.
We are concerned about the huge losses that these diseases and health constraints cause to human capital and the country’s economy. We, therefore, urge that the governments sustain the attention given to the coronavirus episode, but accord similar emergency status and show more commitment to ending the more deadly scourges facing Nigerians.
