Like in Ebola, let’s unite to defeat COVID-19

After weeks of presence in over 50 countries, Coronavirus, now christened COVID-19 by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has found its way into Nigeria, sending shivers down the spines of citizens and foreigners alike.

Recall that the Federal Ministry of Health early on Friday confirmed a Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) case in Lagos State, adding that the patient, an Italian, is clinically stable, with no serious symptoms, and is being managed at the Infectious Disease Hospital in Yaba, Lagos.

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Consequently, the Federal Ministry of Health assured that the preparedness of the country to contain the spread of virus, urging Nigerians and foreigners alike not to panic.

The Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, while briefing the press on Friday in Abuja to announce the entry of COVID-19 into Nigeria, admonished Nigerians to take their personal hygiene more serious.

Ehanire advised that to contain an outbreak in the country, Nigerians should avoid crowded gathering, wash their hands, use hand sanitizers when needed. He also cautioned people to stay about a metre away from people coughing, sneezing or feeling feverish.

“The Federal Ministry of Health, through Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, will continue to provide updates and will initiate all measures required to prevent the spread of any outbreak in Nigeria.

“The multi-sectoral Coronavirus Preparedness Group led by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has immediately activated its national Emergency Operations Centre and will work closely with Lagos State Health authorities to respond to this case and implement firm control measures,” he stated.

We commend the steps so far taken by the Federal Ministry of Health and the Lagos State Government to manage the COVID-19 index case as well as sensitise the citizenry on ways to stop the spread of the virus.

We also applaud other state governments that have taken steps to ensure preparedness of their agencies and Health officials to contain the virus should it find its way into their jurisdictions.

Now that COVID-19 is a reality in Nigeria, we appeal that all hands should be on deck to stop the virus from spreading further.

In this regard, both government and the citizenry must play their roles effectively. Just like was done when Ebola came into Nigeria in 2014, we should all rally round the government to see that COVID-19 is defeated. As citizens or foreigners, we should support every measure put in place by Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Health as well as state governments to stop the spread of the virus. We should also support all Health officials are in frontline in this battle against the spread of the disease.

While we do not see any reason for people to play politics with the entry of COVID-19 into Nigeria, we urge all Nigerians and foreigners alike to join hands with the Federal Government, the Lagos and other states government to ensure that COVID-19 does not spread further and even if it does, we stand together to defeat it.

We believe that just like Nigerians stood together to defeat Ebola in 2014, they will do the same in the case of COVID-19 this time around.