The first case of the coronavirus (Covid-19) infection in Nigeria was reported on 28 February 2020. The number has risen to 981 as at 23 April 2020 and still rising The number of reported deaths is 31. Our sympathy goes out to the families and friends on the loss of their loved ones.
The government has put in place measures to contain the disease, but the difficulties with compliance is the dependence of citizens having to toil through their really small businesses to feed their families. The lock down and social distancing become difficult interventions.
This pandemic exposes the poor social and healthcare structure, a result of the corrupt political system that goes back many decades. Perhaps the effect of this pandemic on citizens of all social class will be a tuning point for improvement across all sectors of the Nigerian society.
There are still honourable men and women in Nigeria and the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigerian Centre for Disease Control and Governments is Lagos, Ogun, Ekiti and Oyo States must be commended for work done in spite of the limited resources. More nationwide testing is required and provision of care for the 20% of cases who will require hospitalisation.
As individuals we all have important roles to play in containing the spread of this disease by social distancing, hand hygiene among other measures.
COVID-19 is here and real
Stay at Home - Stay safe
Each Nigerian Life is Priceless
Photo & Data Credit - NCDC