COVID-19: Everyone should prevent the virus

Over the weekend, South Africa announced its third confirmed COVID-19 case, raising the urgency of the need for Zimbabwe to prepare for the possibility of the dreaded virus.

Since the outbreak of the virus in China late last year, talk on the streets and social media has centred on the state of Zimbabwe’s preparedness for that day when the outbreak of the coronavirus case will be confirmed.

Yes, Government needs to be prepared and it has so far spared no effort or resource in this regard. It has converted Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital in Harare into a centre for the isolation and testing of suspected cases.

Concerns have also been raised over Government’s capacity to handle the COVID-19 scourge. As a member of the United Nations (UN), Zimbabwe is receiving guidance and advice from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on how to handle the cases. So it is not as if the country is on its own as doom-sayers and anti-government elements in our midst would want the world to believe.

The Chinese government has pledged to refurbish and equip Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital to improve its capacity to handle suspected and confirmed cases.

To this end, China is set to dispatch a team of experts to Wilkins Hospital to assess the facility’s needs as part of the Eastern Asian country’s initiative to assist African countries to deal with coronavirus.

Where local facilities fall short as in the case of test confirmation laboratories, the country leverages on its cordial relations with South Africa to ensure nothing is left to chance.

China is not the only country which is assisting Zimbabwe to manage coronavirus cases. The United Kingdom (UK) recently supplied protective clothing and equipment worth £100 000 (US$128 229) towards Government’s coronavirus fighting efforts. Even local companies are playing their part. Mimosa Mine last month bought thermos detection equipment used in checking for coronavirus at the country’s points of entry.

Zimbabwe is also benefiting from its membership of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) whose health ministers met this week to chart the way forward.

The country is to benefit from the SADC Pooled Procurement Services through Medical Stores Department (MSD) for the procurement of medicines and supplies.

Other people have criticised these arrangements as though they do not know the enormity of economic challenges which the country has had to contend with since 2001 when illegal sanctions were imposed on the country.

Such people should be reminded that success in any endeavour in life has never been about meeting one’s objectives single-handedly.

It can also be achieved through partnerships. Even those developed countries, which anti-Government elements look up to as their role models, also tap onto the benefits of partnerships.

If the country’s economic circumstances were normal, the country would have all it needs to handle the COVID-19 outbreak.

Such people should remember that President Mnangagwa’s administration cannot undo in two years a negative situation which developed over two decades.

In view of this, the Government is doing its best under the circumstances to deal with the situation at hand.

Some citizens have accused the Government of hiding information relating to cases of COVID-19 with the recent case of a Mutare-based Chinese woman, who travelled from China to Zimbabwe during the last week of January, but did not present herself to health authorities for the requisite tests only to die on her way to Wilkins Infectious Diseases Hospital.

The woman had presented to her doctor complaining of difficulties in breathing, being insinuated as having been hidden from the public. Nothing is further from the truth. Government gains nothing by hiding any information on COVID-19.

Making such information available benefits not only individual citizens, but the Government as well.

Once confirmed cases are made public, they are made global which means bodies such as WHO can come in and assist with resources and expertise to deal with the issue.

It also makes members of the public accept the reality of the possibility of them also falling victim.

This will spur them into taking precautions against the disease.

Another sad scenario regarding the COVID-19 scourge is the fact that most people are more prepared to criticise Government regarding its preparations for and its handling of suspected cases instead of doing their own bit in ensuring that they do not contract the virus.

Instead of taking preventative measures such as constant and consistent washing of hands, the same people accuse the Government of not doing enough to prepare for the virus.

Visits to gatherings such as church gatherings or weddings indicate that it is business as usual as people are not taking seriously precautions such as avoiding crowded places or shaking hands.

Even the confirmed cases in neighbouring South Africa have failed to galvanise people into taking the disease seriously.