Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held its 29th Edition of Twitter Chat on 15th July 2020 with Dr. Umar Muhammad Sani as the discussant. Dr. Umar Muhammad Sani is the Casualty Officer and Coordinator of COVID-19 A&E Triage and Screening Team of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi and he spoke extensively on the Realistic Approach to Living with COVID-19 in Nigeria.
Dr. Umar began the chat by giving a background of the COVID-19 cases and impact in the world. He said the pandemic had exerted a toll on the healthcare systems, economies and many activities have come to a standstill. He said with cases rising globally, there are estimates that show that the pandemic will extend to 2021. Dr. Umar was of the belief that with figures rising daily, there is no way the virus can be defeated living normal lives and plans to resume activities does not equal the defeat of the virus but a step towards reviving the struggling economy.
One of the impacts of the pandemic to pupils being out of classes and he reported that an estimate puts 46 million pupils out of classes in Nigeria while globally the estimate is 1.4 billion pupils. During the chat, Dr. Umar stated that though the lockdown is a good way to slow the spread of COVID-19, it might not be sustainable but using masks, hand washing and physical distancing are among the many ways people can protect themselves and others and at the same time curb the spread of the virus. He urged the need for everyone to know the true facts of the COVID-19 because misinformation is deadly. The increase in mental health problems such as anxiety and depression, substance abuse and weight gain by those under lockdown are some of the challenges brought upon by the pandemic. Some of the challenges noted by the discussant include poor health systems, the challenge of effective physical distancing because of overcrowded schools, markets and work places as well as the 43% jobs which have been lost by the Nigerian population. Dr. Umar suggested individuals protecting themselves and others by following set guidelines and protocols and getting news only from verified sources as approaches to living with COVID 19 in Nigeria.
ENGAGEMENT:
- Â Â Dr. Do you think people can still continue with their normal lives and at the same time defeat Covid19?
Not so fast. As you can see the figures keep rising, there is no way we can defeat the virus living our normal lives. Plans to resume activities does not equal the virus is defeated. It’s a step to revive the struggling economy. Let look at some facts already
- Â Â Does that means economy is place above people’s lives, sir?
Never. Worldwide, plans are being put in place to learn how to live with the virus. And we cannot be any different. From earlier statistics and estimates, the virus is here to stay. The sad reality is that while lockdown is a good way to slow spread, it might not be sustainable
An estimate puts 46 million pupils out of classes in Nigeria. That’s huge and globally its 1.4 billion with another 40 million girls not able to return to classes for many reasons. Before resuming, there are realities we have to deal with first
- Â Â Dr. @umsani05, we have seen in many instances where law enforcement agents stop individuals and groups from getting into hospitals and other public places for not wearing masks and let only those with masks in.
-   I think the #coronavirusdisease is more sinister than we think, and our calling it a mere respiratory disease doesn’t do us any good. I also think we Nigerians need to get to take this disease more seriously as figures continue to escalate by the day. Not so fast. As you can see the figures keep rising, there is no way we can defeat the virus living our normal lives. Plans to resume activities does not equal the virus is defeated. It’s a step to revive the struggling economy. Let look at some facts already
-   Sir, In Comparing country responses to Covid-19 pandemic, how can you rate Nigeria?
Well, we have seen various responses by governments and authorities.
Some have been heavily criticized. Sometimes politicized and some have made really remarkable efforts worth emulating. We are a struggling economy battling with recessions already. It’s a tough call
-   Dr. @umsani05. In your comment to @a_sabo12 Question u said before resuming, there are realities we have to deal with first. What are they? @ICTAdvocates
Replying to @mukhtars_s@a_sabo12 and @ICTAdvocates hurriedly 1. Our health systems are weak pre covid 19, what are plans in place to revive the most vital sector 2. Physical distancing will be difficult in our already overcrowded schools, markets, work places. 3. Jobs have been lost on an already poor population (abt43%)
-   Is there any vaccine at hand that can take care of the virus or any effort put in place to Producing a vaccine and what need to be done in this regard?
Yes there are many trials and some of them promising. Some are already in the 1st phase. But experts say that a fast track vaccine devt process could speed a successful candidate vaccine in 12 to 18 months assuming all goes smooth
- Â Â Dr. @umsani05, we have seen in many instances where law enforcement agents stop individuals and groups from getting into hospitals and other public places for not wearing masks and let only those with masks in.
- Â Â Sir, can you educate us on the ways to live with this deadly virus since it is inevitable living with it?
- We are also having an increase in mental health problems, like anxiety and depression. Also is substance abuse. 4. People staying at home are gaining weight. We need physical activities to curb the epidemic of obesity
- Â Â But what confuses me is, majority of the people with the masks have it only on their neck. Leaving the mouth and the neck open. Does that means the law enforcement agent don’t know what the mask is meant for?
That’s a very wrong practice and poses a health risk to the wearer. It gets contaminated and that could compromise safety. Even those enforcing at times use it wrongly. We need increased awareness to educate the public on proper mask usage
Using masks and physical distancing are among the many ways we can protect ourselves and others from the spread of the virus. Other means are washing hands. We have to play our part as responsible citizens to contribute our part in containing the pandemic
- Â Â Sir, can you educate us on the ways to live with this deadly virus since it is inevitable living with it?
- We are also having an increase in mental health problems, like anxiety and depression. Also is substance abuse. 4. People staying at home are gaining weight. We need physical activities to curb the epidemic of obesity
- Â Â Dr. @umsani05, we have seen in many instances where law enforcement agents stop individuals and groups from getting into hospitals and other public places for not wearing masks and let only those with masks in.
-   Is there any vaccine at hand that can take care of the virus or any effort put in place to Producing a vaccine and what need to be done in this regard?
Yes there are many trials and some of them promising. Some are already in the 1st phase. But experts say that a fast track vaccine devt process could speed a successful candidate vaccine in 12 to 18 months assuming all goes smooth
- Â Â But what confuses me is, majority of the people with the masks have it only on their neck. Leaving the mouth and the neck open. Does that means the law enforcement agent don’t know what the mask is meant for?
That’s a very wrong practice and poses a health risk to the wearer. It gets contaminated and that could compromise safety. Even those enforcing at times use it wrongly. We need increased awareness to educate the public on proper mask usage
Using masks and physical distancing are among the many ways we can protect ourselves and others from the spread of the virus. Other means are washing hands. We have to play our part as responsible citizens to contribute our part in containing the pandemic.
