COVID-19: Lackadaisical approach will cost us
THE COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the entire world unabated with Brazil and United States leading with the daily deaths.
Close to 700 000 people have already lost their lives, but taking into cognisance that there are so many undocumented deaths in other countries, the number may be understated.
Collation and dissemination of data may be very difficult hence underreporting cannot be overruled.
It is now seven months after the coronavirus was reported in China.
So many rash actions were taken by many countries and by March, almost all countries were in lockdowns which helped slow the spread of the virus.
The Chinese built massive hospitals in one week while the United Kingdom had to build NHS Nightingale Hospital within just nine days.
Of course, Britain is a developed country which cannot be compared with us.
However, God seemed to be on our side since the coronavirus appeared to be less virulent in Africa and we were given more than half a year to prepare, but we blew the opportunity away.
We have not done much as a nation to contain and mitigate against COVID-19 yet the virus is now beginning to kick us left, right and centre.
It is not government alone that needs to put things in order, but the corporate world should endeavour to understand what is needed by the frontliners to execute their duties well.
The following should be taken note of:
The request for personal protective equipment (PPE) has not been met
Since January, we have been clamouring for PPE to be availed to all frontliners regardless of where they are operating from.
COVID-19 calls for national collaboration and both private and public practitioners should be assisted with PPE.
With government and council clinics grounded because of nurses’ strike, the private practitioners are more exposed and their failure to diagonise or contain the virus will result in the rapid spread of the virus.
Why is it that up to now, this important request has not been met by the whole nation that has a Health ministry, multi-million dollar corporates, non-governmental organisations, church organisations, rich individuals? Taking six months without addressing the issue of PPE is not only ridiculous but very embarrassing as a nation.
Incessant disputes in the health sector
Zimbabwe has witnessed continuous fights where health workers are up in arms with government or local authorities because of poor remuneration.
In countries like Italy, France and Spain, retired medical staff had to voluntarily return to work to assist the nation during the red flag days of COVID-19.
The acrimony between the employer and employees leaves us in a precarious position as a nation.
How can we contain the virus when we do not have a functioning public health system?
How can Harare contain COVID-19 if council clinics and hospitals are not functioning?
Medical staff have been at the forefront of contracting COVID-19 at hospitals like Parirenyatwa, Mpilo, United Bulawayo Hospital. Clinics in Mbare, Sunningdale and Mabvuku have reported cases of positive staff members who unfortunately work without PPE. Community spread of the virus will surely worsen.
Medical practitioners are the frontliners in the COVID-19 war
Corporates and organisations that want to assist should at least have some understanding of what is needed by our desperate practitioners.
We all desire to contain the virus. Inadequate resources such as sanitisers, gloves, masks will transfer the burden to the patients who will have to meet the costs at the end. In the meantime, general practitioners in private practice are the most exposed clinicians as they are the first port of call considering that the public health system is on its knees.
In view of the above, we ought to work together as a matter of urgency.
This is the time for extraordinary measures in response to an extraordinary catastrophe.
Our friends and relatives who have co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus, heart failure, severe hypertension, cancers and HIV and Aids may be in trouble with the virus.
Do not experiment with the virus, it will surely ground you sooner rather than later. It is sad that we continue to lose lives to this diabolical virus.
The nation has already been robbed of great minds, budding professionals. At least we ought to consider all options available to contain the virus.
Keep safe wherever you are. Practise good hygiene, observe social distancing and always assume that the person standing next to you has COVID-19!