Flagbearer of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Dramani Mahama has called on all stakeholders- Governments, the United Nations System, Health Professionals, Academia, Multinational Corporations, International and Local NGOs and CSOs to immediately take a united, bold and definite stance against this Coronavirus disease.
According to the former President, the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is posing a serious threat to global security, economy, trade, and transport. While the WHO has not yet declared it a pandemic, they urge countries to take aggressive containment measures.
But he is of the view; the international response had been lukewarm from the time of the outbreak from its source in Wuhan, China, adding that “we are yet to see the kind of leadership, definite and concerted actions, which were mounted against the Ebola virus disease infection in West Africa a few years ago”.
“In the late 20th and early 21st century, we appear to be experiencing an emergence of many new infectious diseases- Zika, Ebola, MERS, and SARS among others. This is scary. But it is consistent with the changing nature of infectious diseases as a result of increasing population, poverty, migration, conflicts, economic and technological development, antimicrobial resistance, climate change, inadequate health infrastructure and public health policies” he elaborated.
He emphasised that these multiple contributory factors are daunting but not insurmountable if the global community which has become intricately linked due to globalization will act decisively together.
“As I said at the United Nations General Assembly in 2014, during the Ebola crisis, that “Ebola is a problem that belongs to the world because it is a disease that knows no boundaries”, we have similarly seen a rapid transnational spread of Coronavirus disease over the past few months”.
“Africa is vulnerable and has not been spared. The first case reported in West Africa has been in Nigeria. This must be a period for the implementation of aggressive preventive measures while we stamp out specific incidences” Mr. Mahama stressed.
He added “We must mount a strong educational and awareness campaign on the nature and mode of transmission of COVID-19 as was done in the period of the Ebola disease outbreak. Discouraging hand shaking, frequent hand washing, use of alcohol-based hand sanitizers at public gatherings such as churches, mosques, funerals etc. should be promoted as soon as possible. Measures such as establishment of quarantine centres, provision of hazmat suits, temperature monitoring and traveler tracking are urgently required”.
Source: Mybrytfmonline/Kwabena Nyarko Abronoma
