By Rotimi Bello
We are living in, perhaps, one of the most dreadful periods in the history of the world. Now, more than ever, the world has been truly reduced into a small global village where the actions and inactions of some members of the global community are felt by all in all parts of the world.
The forces of globalization make us realize that we are actually connected to one another, not only through the interconnectivity of mobile telecommunication, trade, and the media but also through the vulnerability of our humanity. Although we may live in different continents demarcated by oceans, what affects one part of the world could grow to have effect on all humans living on the entire planet.
Advancement in technology has made it possible for international businessmen, heads of governments and international civil servants to have their breakfast in Africa take lunch in the Middle East and have their dinner in Europe or America. This implies that within 24 hours man is capable of interacting with the three continents physically. This is not only a conjecture but the reality of our modern existence.
As we reap the benefits of these technologies in terms of enhanced mobility and social interaction with people in different parts of the world, their effects are never in short supply too: the transfer of communicable diseases and infections across countries and continental borders is one of such effects.
The spread of Covid-19 across all parts of the world underscores our vulnerability to the effect of globalization which has been heightened in our days by the advancement of technology. The virus has gone round the world in a few months of its emergence in China, simply because we people are not limited by country and continental borders anymore. Indeed, the virus spread and continues to spread like wildfire in the bush. But how do we explain the little spark in the remotest corner of China, precisely, WUHAN city, which has affected the global community? Coronavirus is a communicable infection, a droplet of it on the surface like a table, keyboard, doorknob, and elevator could be picked unconsciously by anybody. This makes us all at risk and the stake is very high in all corners of the world. We are certainly fighting a global war without shooting a bullet.
Unlike “Lassa fever” which is endemic to the West African sub-region, COVID-19 seems unstoppable; it breaks all barriers and borders. It is in all countries and irrespective of status or ranks, the virus affect all. The people globetrotting are the potential carrier and distributing agents of this dreaded virus that has no cure at the moment.
European countries, notably, Italy, Spain, France, and the United Kingdom, the US in North America, and the Brazil in South America are currently the epicenters of this pandemic. Despite their efforts to contain the spread of the virus, its contagious effect is difficult to curb at the moment as the figure of infection and fatalities keep growing astronomically. The daily data from these countries are scary. China seemed to have contained and curtailed the spread to the barest minimum but its closed status means that the world does not know exactly what is happening there. Lockdown measure, social distancing, masking and currently, vaccination are the measures being taken to curb the spread of the virus in all parts of the world.
As the world is getting set to recover from the first wave of the pandemic, then the second wave is rearing its ugly head with the clinically distinct variant of COVID-19 being more dangerous and life-threatening than the earlier discovered strains. Now that the vaccine is out in Europe and America, the countries that are less affected like Africa compared to countries in Europe and America are struggling to access and procure their share of the vaccine which some scientists and medical practitioners have condemned by claiming that some brands of the vaccine interact with human DNA, and therefore, could change our genetic configuration.
Some personalities are even as fingered as the brain behind the vaccination, saying they intend to use the opportunity to implant microchips into those taking it so as to control humanity and the world. Other critics of the vaccination opined that the speed at which the vaccine has been discovered is unprecedented and alarmingly unusual.
Obviously, the deviation in speed and process which COVID-19 vaccines has been developed is fueling the suspicion by conspiracy theorists. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the global pharmaceutical industries at the forefront of the fight against COVID-19 should be magnanimous enough to debunk fallacious statement flying around to assuage the people. The global political leaders have been fingers as part and parcel of the vaccination conspiracy. Even a televised vaccination of country’s political leaders (President and Vice President) is perceived as nothing but placebo vaccination to hoodwink the public. The WHO needs to come out and debunk the tissue of lies being peddled against the vaccination by pseudo scientists on social media.
The truth is that COVID-19 is real and the vaccine is available not to cure the virus completely but to minimize the effect of the virus on human body. The vaccine serve as antibody (a blood protein produced in response to and counteracting a specific antigen) against alien corona virus and it variant that may attack human body system. Thus, in a layman language, the vaccine will act as security or soldiers to defend our body system against the foreign invading disease. Therefore, the vaccine is given to boost our immunity in anticipation of contacting or contracting the virus knowingly or unknowingly with minimal effect on human body.
According to Mayo Clinic, “a COVID-19 vaccine might prevent you from getting COVID-19, or, if you get COVID-19, the vaccine might keep you from becoming seriously ill or from developing serious complications. It concluded that getting vaccinated also might help protect people around you from COVID-19, particularly people at increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19”.
Coronavirus has exposed our vulnerability despite our pomposity of capturing the terrestrial earth and inclination to capture the outer space. All war arsenal, warhead, the weapon of mass destruction, ballistic and inter-ballistic missiles piled up by the most powerful nations pale to insignificant before nature induce virus that afflicts man but has no peculiar cure. Minute by minute account has been given by the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC). The mortality curve is skyrocketing. As some patients are recovering and tested negative, other positive cases have been recorded at an interval in different countries, thus the statistics is growing.
Available information shows that there is no credible line of treatment. Thus, people should avoid all sort of concoction that may endanger their internal body organ. An online health website healthline.com suggested that if an infected person experiences severe symptom, then supportive treatments may be given by a doctor at the hospital. The treatment a patient receives may involve: fluids to reduce the risk of dehydration; medication to reduce fever and supplemental oxygen in more severe cases. Research shows that young and agile adult need intensive isolation and application of mild drug by the physician. While an aged person with a medical condition should see a personal physician for quick treatment to avoid complication.
In the meantime, we should all adhere strictly to the simple instruction of wearing facemasks in public places; maintaining social distance and avoiding the touching of our mouths, eyes and noses. It is also important to embrace frequent washing of hands, exercising and eating well and no unnecessary travelling till when the siege is over. Tentatively, the new normal for us all is simply to survive this precarious pandemic virus that defies all medications.
Rotimi S. Bello wrote this piece from Abuja and could be reached via [email protected]