The incident of the Spanish Flue in the early 19th century in which 50 to 100 mln. people around the world had perished had not left Ethiopians untouched. Ethiopians who code-named the flue as The Disease of November (Yehidar Besheita) fought off the pandemic with all resources available at their disposal and by burning down trash and old stuff to keep off the disease through smoke from the bone fires.
Today, with the advent of COVID 19, history is repeating itself in Ethiopia. Unabated by the growing number of infections elsewhere in Europe and the US and with loser adherence to WHO guidelines and the instructions from the Ministry of Health and Institute of Public Health, the entire social stratum in the country are once again showing their irreversible unity, solidarity and the culture of sharing resources. The selfless cooperation among all the peoples of Ethiopia in this difficult situation helps the nation to reduce the consequences the pandemic would bring.
Our heroic frontline medical professionals are laboring, dawn to dusk in treating the few citizens who have tested positive from COVID 19. Individual owners of hotels, apartments, villas, and stores are giving away their properties to be used as treatment and rehabilitation centers. Companies did not waste time in contributing food and sanitary goods for those who cannot afford to buy these items. Banks in the country, construction, and real estate companies, religious institutions, hotels, sports federations, public and private transport companies are contributing funds to be used in the battle against the virus.
The Federal Ministry of Health is already making massive preparations in case there could be a worst-case scenario. Screening and testing centers are already established in a regional town with outreach to zones and woredas.
Realizing the urgency of the situation created by the pandemic, the NEBE has rightly decided to cancel the national election scheduled to take place in August and this was an important decision that is vital for strictly implementing social distancing measures a tool for minimizing the spread of COVID 19.
All these actions vividly show that Ethiopia has sons and daughters who can stretch out their hands to the rescue of citizens affected by the virus. I have personally lived enough to see how Ethiopians come to the assistance of each other at all times of crisis and multiple tribulations.
The spirit of Pan Africanism that has been demonstrated by Ethiopians for hundreds of years has now been revived by the solidarity the country has demonstrated in sharing resources the government has solicited in cooperation with international partners.
Realizing that the pandemic cannot be stopped by the efforts of the individual countries, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has already consulted with the EU, the PRC, South Korea and a number of African countries including South Africa, Uganda, and Rwanda on how to coordinate a continental approach in battling the pandemic.
The COVID 19 pandemic is indeed reshaping the nature of global political, diplomatic and cultural values that have so far prevailed across the world. National exclusiveness is being replaced by cooperation and mutual support while the issues related to protecting and conserving the global eco-system is resurging.
Given the higher risk involved in contracting the virus, it is of critical importance to implement social distancing and to continue social interaction through electronic means using cell phones and multiple sets of correspondence available. It has been observed that students are using the stay at home directives as an opportunity to meet their friends in parks and other entertainment places which a higher risk of contracting the virus. This is far more dangerous for students because of any young person and serves as a conveyor belt without feeling the slightest pain of being infected with the virus. The difference is only between getting tested or not.
Multiple sets of coping mechanisms need to be organized through online and TV training programs. IT professionals, persons of creative arts, clinical psychotherapists, public health professionals, religious leaders, celebrities in all areas of professions can create a national united front to collectively fight against the pandemic by being engaged in measurable and targeted activities that can bring about the desired results.
It is very difficult to perfectly predict the time span under which the virus can subside in diminishing returns but we can be sure that with the united and harmonized efforts of the peoples of Ethiopia, the virus could be contained in the shortest possible time.
The Ethiopian Herald April 7/2020
BY SOLOMON DIBABA
