Editorial: COVID-19, Is Nigeria Ready To Contain It’s Spread?

The Italian arrived Lagos on February 24th, 2020 through a Turkish Airlines, after a day in Lagos, he arrived in Ogun State where he developed fever, body aches and other symptoms associated with Coronavirus. He was confirmed by the Virology Laboratory of the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) on February, 27th, 2020. The laboratory is part of the laboratory network for the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC).

As expected, Nigerians started panicking at the sound of COVID-19 at their doorsteps, if this dreaded virus can overwhelm the mighty China, what will become of us when the government of the day doesn’t value the lives of the average Nigeria.

The Federal Minister for Health, Osagie Ehanire, has assured all Nigerians of the preparedness of the government to respond to COVID-19 since the first confirmation of cases in China. We commend the efforts of the government of Ogun State, Lagos State, Lafarge PLC and NCDC for the quarantine of the 39 persons who had contact with the Italian.

We implore Nigerians to keep faith with the Federal Government in tackling this deadly virus that doesn’t respect status, tribe, tongue, religion and political affiliations.

The NCDC has issued a public health advisory on the novel Coronavirus, COVID-19 to Nigerians.

“A National Rapid Response Team had been deployed to support Lagos and Ogun State governments with contact tracing and required response activities”

“Currently, there are four laboratories in NCDC’s molecular laboratory network, with the capacity to test for COVID-19 in Nigeria. These laboratories are sufficiently equipped with reagents and supplies for testing. NCDC is in contact with all states to increase the index of suspicion to ensure cases are detected early.”

The Federal Ministry of Health has also intensified surveillance at points of entry (Lagos, Kano, Port Harcourt, and FCT) particularly for returning travelers with travel history to countries with ongoing transmission.

The Port Health Services of the Federal Ministry of Health have screening measures in place at every point of entry. In addition to automated temperature screening, travelers are given contact forms to fill and asked questions upon arrival about symptoms of illness and travel history.

We urge the Federal Government to use this renewed strength to fight Lassa Fever that has killed 118 Nigerians between January and February 2020. As of February, 23, the disease has spread to 27 of 36 states in Nigeria. In 2018, about 162,000 children died from Pneumonia, making Nigeria the country with the highest number on Pneumonia related deaths in the world.

These deaths will not make the news headline because the main victims are the poor members of our society, unlike Coronavirus that doesn’t respect your social status.