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Ready To Combat COVID-19

COVID 19

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tesfayeguji
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23 views2 pages

Ready To Combat COVID-19

COVID 19

Uploaded by

tesfayeguji
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Ready to combat COVID-19!?

Corona virus (COVID-19) is spreading very fast. As of today, it has infected more than 120,000 people
and killed 4376 people globally. It has been reported in 120 countries worldwide out of which 12 are in
Africa. Countries like Italy are hardly hit and currently in lock down where as some others like Iran are
struggling to cope with it. Considering the fact that no medicine or vaccine has been discovered against
this virus till date, it is very difficult to estimate how much of the world population will be affected
before it is put under control.

As the prevention and control of COVID is a resource intensive operation its impact on developing
countries like Ethiopia is suspected to be horrific if it finds its way in the country. If serious public health
measures are not put in place promptly it might overwhelm our poor country within a very short period
of time. In time of such dreadful scenarios the government particularly the FMoH, health professionals,
public health specialists, civic societies and the community at large should prepare itself to combat this
pandemic. This would definitely require funding and diligent pre-planned tactical actions in order to
reduce its impact on country’s welfare and economy.

It is obvious that there have been certain moves from the FMoH, the EPHI as well as some health
activists so far. It is recognized that there is screening being done on individuals arriving from abroad
even if we don’t believe the screening method in use is efficient nor do we believe that totally relying on
the screening tests to exclude the probability of the infection with confidence is appropriate; especially
after hearing reports of cases found to be COVID-19 positive with recent travel history to Ethiopia. It is
encouraging that a hotline was established to report suspected cases in the community. We are also
informed that few centers are being prepared to take care of COVID-19 cases if there will be any.
Certainly, something is better than nothing and we really appreciate the effort. However, we are quite
concerned about the status of these centers. Are they equipped with the medical equipment required to
treat critically sick patients with respiratory failure? And if they are, are there enough of these,
hypothetically speaking if hundreds of patients require such an advanced care in a couple of days like
the scenario that occurred in Italy or Iran? Is there any containment and self-quarantine scheme
prepared if this infection overwhelms our health facilities?

We believe some measures may not require much resource such as community teaching via mass media
or social media. The FMOH should effectively be engaged in educating the society regarding
transmission, preventive methods and what to do when symptomatic cases occur. And such health
education should be given in a public friendly manner with different languages in order to address
different communities all over Ethiopia. In parallel to this, training of health professionals ahead is very
central in insuring readiness for the combat. In addition, professional associations and other civic
organizations should play their role in giving their technical support to the ministry before it is too late.

The FMoH in collaboration with other concerned institutions should prepare enough beds with essential
medical equipment like mechanical ventilators as promptly as possible. It should also increase the
supply and distribution of simple self-protection gadgets such as face masks, googles and gloves. It is a
must to make sure physicians are working in a protected environment in order for them to help those in
need with unlimited commitment and it is the FMOH’s responsibility to make such protective
equipment readily available. We are now hearing that most countries are banning the export of simple
self-protective gadgets like face mask to conserve for their own domestic needs. It is not difficult to
predict that as most countries are hit with this pandemic such materials whether those purchased or
received as aid would be quite scarce. And as a country we think that there should be an alternative plan
set by the concerned body if such issues are encountered.

Finally, COVID-19 is a huge health threat spinning the whole world. It is affecting both the welfare and
economy of the developed nations. Combating COVID-19 is not going smoothly for the lavish and it
would definitely be more difficult for the impoverished. So, we believe coordinated effort from the
government, NGOs, professionals, and the community in general is paramount to endure through this
difficult times.

Oromia Physicians Association

March 11, 2020

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