Coronavirus is a global pandemic. We all are vulnerable to epidemic. This heartrending disease has never been in our body before and it can become a full blown pandemic. Everyone can be contracted and be affected by it. It has no respect to anyone. No one is protected from this endemic disease. It is indiscriminate. It affects and it attacks everyone irrespective of color, age, gender, religious or any socio-economic, cultural as well as traditional backgrounds.
Coronavirus is an enemy of humanity. When contracted with it, it is so painful and it kills painfully. In the event of this pandemic, usual and natural activities have been curtailed, stopped or at least minimized and that causes an unprecedented chaos, confusion and hopelessness amongst the public at large all over the world.
It has caused isolations and quarantined so many people in order to stop spreading the disease to others. Humans like to socialize, to get together, to hug each other, to play with each other etc. We all are used to be close to each other. These values, traditions and norms cannot be the order of the day at this point in time because they are now causes for contracting this disease.
Measures such as keeping social distancing, washing hands several times with soap and water, covering mouth and nose with masks and using gloves etc. are some of the measures recommended by medical personnel in order to fight this deadly disease. In spite of that however, the measures taken to stop the spread of the disease has not so far been successful and more measures, more procedures, techniques and strategies are needed to stop the spread of this deadly disease.
Staying at home, social distancing, cover ups with gloves, masks etc. are very important; however, traditional, cultural, religious and other experiences are becoming impediment to strictly and with discipline follow these scientific measures. Further, there are also some myths with no scientific relevance that are confusing the public at large. Myths such as: corona does not affect young people, corona can be washed and flashed out with water, hot weather can kill corona etc. These traditional thoughts contrary to scientific solutions are becoming obstacles to fulfilling scientific safety responses and procedures. As a result, many, in thousands are contracting this deadly disease and many are disappearing.
Virtual socializing is becoming the norm and is becoming relevant and imperative because normal socializing are giving up their position to virtual socializing to avoid close contact and if possible to stop the spread of coronavirus or at least to minimize it. It is okay to be isolated and it is okay to be guaranteed and it is okay to be tested because these measures are taken for safety purposes to keep us safe; therefore, these scientific measures must be strictly adhered to and be stringently followed.
Since this disease affects everyone, it needs a global and unified response in order to get out and have a long term exit of this pandemic disease. Global responses include but not limited to sharing of information, sharing of medical equipment, sharing and assistance of medical personnel and medical information. The long term exit is to get a vaccine to prevent the disease from happening again. We must get the vaccine to get us out of this mess. We need a mechanism to get us out but it has been slow thus fur, therefore, countries are going through difficult times right now and are hoping and wishing for a quick solution to this pandemic disease.
Some measures are underway however. Staying at home, social distancing, face, nose covering, using gloves and testing etc. are important and must be done regularly. Testing is absolutely critical and countries must share their good experiences and good practices in that regard. Countries must develop a long term strategies in order to get a vaccine sooner than later to save lives.
Vaccine takes long time to develop but it is a global question for a global public good; therefore, the sooner it is made and distributed the better for the safety of the public at large. It must be noted that it is now or never for global leaders and governments alike to respond. They should fund the public health hospitals, clinics, medical personnel with needed equipment, manpower and technical and professional assistances.
Since corona is a global pandemic, it needs a global and unified response and global cooperation and collaboration. Here, politics has no place at all. Countries have started to put their differences out and are coming together and responding dutifully vis-à-vis this issue. They are providing public health equipment and sharing experiences as well as medical knowledge and medical personnel in order to find solutions to this dangerous disease.
Vaccine may not come very soon but this kind of lockdown cannot go and we have to find a bridge to releasing vaccine before it becomes a disaster. Everyone must contribute whatever they can and share in finding solutions. There is some hope that vaccine may be out there already to be analyzed and synthesized in order to be an effective solution. Medical persons, nurses, doctors, midwives volunteers etc. are resiliently working day in and day out taking care of the ill and in order to find durable and sustainable solutions to this disease. Some are affected by the disease and some are dying to save our lives. These unique and bighearted professionals deserve our appreciation and our respect. History will remember their dedication and hard work to save many lives.
Furthermore, people are offering their hotels, guest houses, and transport vehicles. Centers have been open to host those contracted or affected by the virus and to those affected by financial burden caused by this endemic. People are starting to do what they did not do before. They are showing the true color of humanity that may stay longer and stay for good in the future. We must say thank you to those who are helping.
Society at one point in time or the other have been confronted with variety of manmade as well as environmental or unforeseen circumstances such as the current phenomenon; however, history teaches us that society also confronted and overcome those challenges and confrontations as well.
Currenty, there is a whole range of remarkable research that is being done in order to find a solution to this disease and looking at the data, the scientific message seems to be pretty clear. Different attempts are coming out for a vaccine. There are different vaccines already engineered and in place and two have moved to peoples’ testing. There is a whole range of different approaches to make a vaccine but difficult to know which one can work effectively.
It is the safety issue, the testing in question that matters. It takes a lot of testing to know what works effectively. There has to be a solid data in order to know what works effectively under testing.
There is some hope that some treatment to this disease is underway. A medicine by the name of hydroxychloroquine: an antibody therapy has been developed to be used to fight COVID-19. There are other treatments that are underway as well. It is believed that they all can be effective and there is a lot of optimism in that regard. However, following proper trail and proper scientifically required testing procedures with no discrimination what so ever is absolutely necessary.
This pandemic has altered our sense of the world and hence, it requires us to adjust and take action we have never taken before. We all must adjust and take action that we cannot make a decision. We need to start to be honest on what we are doing. We need to follow scientific lessons, procedures and directions and must not be misled by non-scientific myths, religious, cultural and traditional impediments contrary to medical and scientific solutions in fulfilling safety responses to this pandemic disease.
Every nation is affected by this disease and since it is a global pandemic, it needs a global solution and global cooperation. Hospitals are confronting many challenges and it is taking a lot of these medical personnel in fulfilling their responsibilities; therefore, they must be funded and well equipped with necessary medical critical supply such as ventilators, gloves, masks and other equipment. Governments, the business community, philanthropists, universities, research centers and the public at large must do their share in order to get us out of this unprecedented danger.
The Ethiopian Herald April 14/2020
BY YOHANNES GEBRESELLASIE (Ph.D.)
