Ebola is a five-lettered word that continues to sweep across Nigeria and other West African countries in a relatively wide span range. It is an ill-wind that blows death and destruction through urine, saliva, mucus and the likes. The ability of the virus to decimate its victims is so humongous and phenomenal as 9 out of 10 victims do not survive. The recent drugs, called Zmapp proclaimed to douse the virus seems elusive as drugs are yet to arrive. Two, the local content discovered by Nigerian scientists called Nano-Silver, believed to work effectively and efficiently has been proclaimed by American government as a Pesticide.
The fact that Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) has now become a death sentence raises the stakes in government to delve copiously on the trend. Was the late Liberian guy, Patrick Sawyer a terrorist for shipping in EVD? Are we prepared to conquer EVD and other pestilence diseases that comes up after this scourge
If yes, then we must resort to local content, and harmonised it with Orthodox. Over donkey years, our fore-fathers have been eating Bats, Monkey, Chimpanzees and other wild animals without having one issue or the other. Or is this a pogrom to wipe out and annihilate a nation? Was Partick Sawyer used as an instrument to reduce Nigeria to a beggarly status? Was it purposefully done? To what degree has Nigerian government made the best use of available resources and explored new potential in the bid to progressively realise the right to the highest attainable state of physical and mental health? Do we flirt with the concept of health is wealth as an aphorism.
When it comes to information technology in Nigeria, we signal retrogression, a setback. ICT in the Aviation sector that ought to have driven the growth is at the base of the hill. Technological advancement that should have been deposited to all entries in the country or border is in a zero sum level and fatal fall.
Prior to the outbreak of the pandemic disease, we have heard news of the trend, but we all fold our arms, looking vacantly at the wall in front of us and unable to dispense panacea. Prior, adequate and intensive research has not been made to forestall the trend. Research was not proactive to deal with any lapses as they come. Now that it knocks on our door, panic-stricken ensues.
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control should be well-versed on this pestilence disease and efforts must be made to tailor the sure-cure to Orthodox medicine. The individual as well should keep to simple sanitary rules and keeping their surroundings clean and making it unfriendly for any virus to live in. This is a matured time for the Federal government to re-initiate the monthly sanitation exercise that was abrogated long ago.
It is time to establish screening at all ports of entry and track any victim. The Nigerian Immigration Service should work in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and other stakeholders to checkmate the spread of the disease. The efforts of the government in stemming the tide are showy. Efforts and prominent role should however be intensified to guarantee the security of lives by taking a wide leap into the health sector and empowering the medical personnel that are assigned to the Ebola hospitals in the areas of financial incentives and provision of medical kits. The masses at the lower rung of the society should therefore be nosy for news should they find any victim at the grassroots.
All efforts should be made to resort to local content of orthodox medicine and tailor it to unorthodox. It is one of the way to go and nip the pestilence in bud. The earlier we dovetail it to the scientist, the better for us all
Will Ebola reign supreme or kiss the dust of defeat? Only time can define?