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| *Gov Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State addressing a press conference today on the outbreak of coronavirus in Lagos |
The Nigerian
Ministry of Health has confirmed the first case of Coronavirus in Lagos. A tweet
sent out by the ministry early today (Friday February 28, 2020), reads:
“The Federal Ministry of Health has
confirmed a coronavirus(Covid-19) case in Lagos State Nigeria. The case which
was confirmed on 27/02/2020 is the first case to be reported in Nigeria since
the beginning of the outbreak in China in January 2020”
According to the minister, "The patient is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos."
Nigeria has long been identified by the
World Health Organisation (WHO) as one of the vulnerable countries expected to experience
an outbreak of the disease.
Concerns have been expressed about Lagos
since the disease occurred and exploded in Wuhan, China, given its population
and the regular influx of people from several parts of the world into the city.
Experts and health watchers had advised
that extra care should be deployed to prevent the entrance of the disease into
the country.
The world praised Nigeria’s expert
response to Ebola in 2014 during the Goodluck Jonathan administration. An
influential American magazine, Foreign Policy, in a lead article praised
Nigeria so much for its ability to contain the disease within a very short time
and minimize casualties. It also stated that “everything Nigeria got right, America got wrong” in the fight
against Ebola.
Several people have expressed worries that
the screening at the airports and other entry points has been lackluster. Analysts
are hoping that the Buhari regime should reach out to those medical experts
that helped the country to contain Ebola in 2014 and engage their cooperation
in the present effort to contain the coronavirus disease which has now entered
the country.
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Basic Protective Measures Against The New Coronavirus
Wash your hands frequently
Regularly and thoroughly clean your
hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water.
Why? Washing your hands with soap and water or using
alcohol-based hand rub kills viruses that may be on your hands.
Maintain social distancing
Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet)
distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Why? When someone coughs or sneezes they spray small liquid
droplets from their nose or mouth which may contain virus. If you are too
close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the
person coughing has the disease.
Avoid touching eyes, nose and mouth
Why? Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once
contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From
there, the virus can enter your body and can make you sick.
Practice respiratory hygiene
Make sure you, and the people around
you, follow good respiratory hygiene. This means covering your mouth and nose
with your bent elbow or tissue when you cough or sneeze. Then dispose of the
used tissue immediately.
Why? Droplets spread virus. By following good respiratory hygiene
you protect the people around you from viruses such as cold, flu and COVID-19.
If you have fever, cough and difficulty
breathing, seek medical care early
Stay home if you feel unwell. If you
have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call
in advance. Follow the directions of your local health authority.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date
information on the situation in your area. Calling in advance will allow your
health care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This
will also protect you and help prevent spread of viruses and other infections.
Stay informed and follow advice given by your
healthcare provider
Stay informed on the latest
developments about COVID-19. Follow advice given by your healthcare provider,
your national and local public health authority or your employer on how to
protect yourself and others from COVID-19.
Why? National and local authorities will have the most up to date
information on whether COVID-19 is spreading in your area. They are best placed
to advise on what people in your area should be doing to protect themselves.
Protection measures for persons who are in or have recently
visited (past 14 days) areas where COVID-19 is spreading
- Follow the guidance
outlined above.
- Stay at home if you
begin to feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and slight
runny nose, until you recover. Why? Avoiding contact
with others and visits to medical facilities will allow these facilities
to operate more effectively and help protect you and others from possible
COVID-19 and other viruses.
- If you develop
fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical advice promptly as
this may be due to a respiratory infection or other serious condition.
Call in advance and tell your provider of any recent travel or contact
with travelers. Why? Calling in advance will allow your health
care provider to quickly direct you to the right health facility. This
will also help to prevent possible spread of COVID-19 and other viruses.
*Culled from the WHO website
"Experts and health watchers had advised that extra care should be deployed to prevent the entrance of the disease into the country." Unfortunately they took it lightly, so lightly that a person whose immune system had been overpowered by coronavirus passed through the airport undetected. Perhaps, just as Magu said coronavirus was caused by corruption, its successful passage through the Nigerian airport all the way to Ogun State may have been possible because of corruption.
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