As COVID-19 went on invading the world with different levels of prevalence rate and influenced nations to go through different social and economic restrictions, several advises are coming from medical experts and other informers about how people can keep themselves safe from the virus.
So many people are also desperately digging these advices or messages from the mainstream and social media outlets hoping they would be protected.
When some say using gloves is inevitable to minimize the risks of the spreading virus, others would refer to the expensiveness and shortage of gloves, even for health workers who are fighting the battle on the front line, and suggest hand washing as the best option.
Some doctors also argue that wearing gloves could make people think they are protected and trick them into ignoring the fact that they have to wash their hands frequently.
Some people also argue that everyone should wear masks while others say masks are only for those who are exposed.
While such and other ideas are coming from those who are concerned and those who may not be, the peoples’ way of using the different safety materials and professional advises like social distancing and staying at home seem to go on in different confused and desperate perspectives.
When some people are also strictly washing hands with any available type of soap, in every half hour, others would depend on hand sanitizers.
A recent online message that came from the Czech Republic, through Masks4All, indicates that despite the misunderstood undermining thoughts and comments about available protection methods, the Country has significantly slowed down the spread of the virus by following social distancing in the rule staying at home, strict hygienic procedure like hand washing and sanitizing hands. But the main difference is that everyone who leaves house has to wear a face mask, which was stressed on the message.
Sharing his professional experience on the message, Vladimir Zdimal (PhD) Head of the Department of Chemistry and Aerosol Physics at Czech Academy of Sciences, says that a simple homemade mask can prevent up to 100 percent of the spread of potentially infected microdroplets.
Emil Pavlik, (M.D; Ph.D.) Microbiologist and Virologist for his part seconds the idea telling “the more people use masks, the less virus will be distributed and fewer individuals would be exposed.”
DR. Selamawit Assefa, ophthalmologist and Executive Director at Bio-economy Africa, on the other hand tells The Ethiopian Herald, that she totally agree with the fact people should wear face masks and says it is illogical to simply conclude that masks are only for health workers and those who are infected.
In terms of using gloves, Selamawit argue that the material is expensive. “One, pack holds hundred gloves and its price is over 100 Birr. If one ordinary person has to use glove, he/she need three gloves in a day. That would simply be during breakfast, lunch and dinner times.
There may be other situations that would mandate the use of extra gloves. Thus, considering the societies in lower economic classes, it could be difficult to afford gloves and I believe that it is preferable if the people focus on washing their hands frequently.”
Even though Selamawit believe hand sanitizers have crucial significance, she is still concerned if poor members of society could have adequate access. She also underlines that people should wash their hands frequently while those who have access could use hand sanitizers as well because they would have double protective advantage.
“But the major significance of washing hands frequently is that it will be a vital trend between societies in their future and we all have faith that the world will win the battle against the current COVID-19 pandemic.”
While suggesting the appropriate use of all the protective methods, Selamawit also stresses it is crucial that all the scientific community and organizations acting in medical areas would come up with the effective vaccine for COVID-19 sooner and save humanity with acceptable professional manners that see all human races equally.
“It is best that governments and scientists also work with traditional medicine practitioners. But the overall safety and protection tasks shall not be left for governments, medical scientists and health workers.
Societies must do their best in protecting themselves by avoiding confusions, following the right directives from government and professionals and considering the available safety mechanisms wisely for there is no permanent solution the world has come up yet” she stresses.
The Ethiopian Herald April 26/2020
BY HENOK TIBEBU
