Disaster-management-in-the-eyes-of-the-corona-virus-pandemic
September 7, 2020 | News
DISASTER MANAGEMENT IN THE EYES OF THE CORONA VIRUS PANDEMIC
With the apparent panic and fear-ridden atmosphere across the globe, over the widespread pandemic outbreak of the novel Corona virus (Covid-19), which has made the Federal Government of Nigeria to restrict entry into Nigeria for travelers from the following high incidence countries; China, Italy, Iran, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland - effective from Saturday, 21st of March 2020, for an initial period of four weeks, we believe no information is too much for the public to equip themselves with, in staying safe and taking the necessary precautionary measures.
One question that troubles me most is, what palliative measures, economic measures, risk management measures and relief measure are the Nigerian Government at all levels putting in place to cushion, reduce and address the dire effects the corona-virus pandemic will cause on the Nigerian populace and the nation’s economy? It is not enough for the Government in some States to issue Orders to restrict movement of persons and social interaction, and asking people to stay at home. The question is, what is the government putting in place to ensure that Nigerians are made to go through more suffering during this trying period? Reducing the price of petrol pump price from N145 to N125, also does not cut it because it was obviously done because of the fall of the oil price at the international market due to the pandemic, not necessary because the Government really cares. We are yet to see any serious move and actions by the Federal and State Governments in managing this situation. This is unlike what we have seen by other Government leaders in other climes. I was moved when I came across the video message of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Pierre James Trudeau to the Canadian people:
“In one way or another, the spread of COVID-19 is forcing all of us to change our daily routines. That might mean working from home, or it might mean planning how to close your businesses temporary. Many of you are worried about your jobs, about paying the bills, about taking care of your kids. But know that WE HAVE GOT YOUR BACK. WE HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED A WHOLE RANGE OF MEASURES TO PROTECT JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, FROM NEW RULES ON EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TO FINANCING FOR BUSINESSES. AND TODAY, WE LAUNCHED A $27BILLION PLAN TO HELP ALL CANADIANS GET THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES AND EXCEPTIONAL TIMES. COMBINED WITH OTHER MEASURES, WE ARE ANNOUNCING A TOTAL OF $82BILLION TO SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR ECONOMY – THAT’S MORE THAN 3 PERCENT OF OUR ECONOMY. If you fall ill, or have to self-isolate, but you don’t qualify for EI (Emergency Intervention) or have access to sick leave, we’ll be PUTTING MONEY IN YOUR POCKET EVERY TWO WEEKS. If you have kids, we’re boosting the Canada Child Benefit. If you get the GST Credit, we’re boosting that too. And if you’re an employer of a small business who’s worried about paying staff, we’ll give you a temporary wage subsidy to keep people on the payroll. For everyone, those experiencing homelessness of fleeing domestic violence, farmers, young workers, or indigenous communities – this plan has targeted measures for you too. We’re putting out all the steps to protect jobs and the economy. And the same goes for people’s health and safety. I spoke with President Trump this morning, and we’ve agreed that both Canada and the United States will temporary restrict all non-essential travel across the US – Canada border. We closed our airport to people who aren’t Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.
“We took action to support Canadians who are still abroad. And we built on what we’ve already done to invest in our healthcare system. Across the country, people like you are reaching out to support each other. You know we’re in this together. And so, does our team. We’ve been in constant contact with the Provinces and Territories, with indigenous leaders and communities, and international counterparts. Together, we can make sure that everyone has the support they need. This isn’t an easy time. But it’s going to get better. And until it does, let’s just focus on the steps ahead. Stay home to protect your health and your family’s health, but also to lift the load on our doctors and nurses. Ask how you can help out an elderly neighbor. And make sure that you’re taking time for yourself to rest and do what you need, to stay positive. For a little while, this will be our new normal. And that’s ok, because we’re in it together.” Quite inspiring and hopeful, wouldn’t you agree? We do not get to hear, or get such inspirational and vision-laden messages and actions from our Nigerian political leaders across all levels. Often times, the majority of the Nigerian people are left to fend for themselves and on their own to survive in crisis situation. With the magnitude of the Corona-virus, we only pray that it does not get worse than it already is, because if it does, it would not be a pleasant sight to behold.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), even though there are news reports going round that chloroquine and some other common flu drugs can cure it, which health experts are yet to agree on, and only said it can be used for Clinical tests. But the best way to prevent such illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Through, respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and these droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Some of the steps advised to take to protect oneself include:
Clean Your Hands Often: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
2. Avoid close contact: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
Take steps to protect others by:
Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
Though, the above stated countries are countries with over 1,000 cases domestically, which are where these precautionary measures needs to be taken more seriously, but we also need to educate ourselves about them, while we pray that the case in Nigeria will not get to that level. There is also need for Health Officials in Nigeria to also take advantage of every areas of medicine and their professionals in various fields, like Pharmacists for instance, in addressing/managing this pandemic situation – as preventive steps.
To this end, we consider it necessary to share this piece of Pharmacists and Disaster Management situations by Akinmutola Abayomi, a Clinical Pharmacist in Nigeria. According to Abayomi: “Disasters are sudden and dangerous events that seriously interfere with the functioning of a community and cause human, material, economic or environmental damage that exceeds the ability of the community to manage its own resources. Often caused by nature, disasters can arise from people. Disaster management entails using available resources to deal with natural disasters through planning, preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation at each management stage, namely: Pre-disaster stage, activities include prevention, mitigation and preparedness; Stage during a disaster, activities include emergency response and recovery; Post-disaster stage, activities include rehabilitation and reconstruction.
“Disasters like pandemic (COVID-19), major storms, earthquakes, floods, heatwaves, wildfires, explosions and terrorist actions happen. As one of the health human resources, pharmacists are also involved in disaster management and should have plans in place that allow them to respond when these emergencies occur and to provide aid to others. In disaster management, Pharmacist can help alleviate many of these issues by interviewing, triaging, and assessing patient needs for treatment, in addition to having immediate access to medications. With pharmacists being one of the most accessible health care providers, it is vital for pharmacists to understand how their practices may be influenced during an emergency. Pharmacies are strategically located in visible areas throughout most communities and some community pharmacies are even open 24 hours. Therefore, pharmacists have the potential to provide care throughout the day and night.
“Pharmacist are a great resource in the healthcare sector, and this was reiterated in a video circulated last year of the Director-General World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom who noted that ‘Pharmacists play a wide variety of roles across the health sector including the ministries of health, regulatory agencies, research and development, quality assurance, pharmaceutical industries and procurement agencies. And that it is vital the training for Pharmacist include preparation for the wide variety of roles they can play beyond dispensing medicines.’
“Pharmacists' contributions to disaster health care are needed both in preparation for disasters and in reducing the consequences of an actual disaster, and can include: Conducting health education and promotion; Producing medicines and monitoring medicine use in specific situations such as the care of frail patients; Developing emergency guidelines for the treatment of casualties; Avoiding unnecessary stockpiling of pharmaceuticals; Ensuring proper packaging, storage, handling, labelling and dispensing of emergency supplies; Ensuring that the right medicine is received by the right person; Performing extensive clinical research, pharmacovigilance; and Preventing people from receiving expired medicines; as well as other activities.
“Therefore, the participation of pharmacists in the aforementioned areas will increase the resilience of the health system, effective control of the consequences of natural disasters and future preparations for such disasters will contribute to a gradual adherence to universal health coverage. As natural disasters and emergencies are inevitable and demand for health care providers during such times are high, pharmacists can aid in bridging the health care gap. They have a growing role in healthcare, the use of all disaster management techniques can improve healthcare regulation. With a special understanding of medicine, pharmacists can easily integrate with disaster relief, providing direct access to important resources. They not only have access to medicines, but also have the skills to participate in certain roles alongside other medical professionals.”
Zik Gbemre.
March 24, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With the apparent panic and fear-ridden atmosphere across the globe, over the widespread pandemic outbreak of the novel Corona virus (Covid-19), which has made the Federal Government of Nigeria to restrict entry into Nigeria for travelers from the following high incidence countries; China, Italy, Iran, Norway, South Korea, Spain, Japan, France, Germany, United States of America, United Kingdom, Netherlands & Switzerland - effective from Saturday, 21st of March 2020, for an initial period of four weeks, we believe no information is too much for the public to equip themselves with, in staying safe and taking the necessary precautionary measures.
One question that troubles me most is, what palliative measures, economic measures, risk management measures and relief measure are the Nigerian Government at all levels putting in place to cushion, reduce and address the dire effects the corona-virus pandemic will cause on the Nigerian populace and the nation’s economy? It is not enough for the Government in some States to issue Orders to restrict movement of persons and social interaction, and asking people to stay at home. The question is, what is the government putting in place to ensure that Nigerians are made to go through more suffering during this trying period? Reducing the price of petrol pump price from N145 to N125, also does not cut it because it was obviously done because of the fall of the oil price at the international market due to the pandemic, not necessary because the Government really cares. We are yet to see any serious move and actions by the Federal and State Governments in managing this situation. This is unlike what we have seen by other Government leaders in other climes. I was moved when I came across the video message of the Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Pierre James Trudeau to the Canadian people:
“In one way or another, the spread of COVID-19 is forcing all of us to change our daily routines. That might mean working from home, or it might mean planning how to close your businesses temporary. Many of you are worried about your jobs, about paying the bills, about taking care of your kids. But know that WE HAVE GOT YOUR BACK. WE HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED A WHOLE RANGE OF MEASURES TO PROTECT JOBS AND THE ECONOMY, FROM NEW RULES ON EMPLOYMENT INSURANCE TO FINANCING FOR BUSINESSES. AND TODAY, WE LAUNCHED A $27BILLION PLAN TO HELP ALL CANADIANS GET THROUGH THESE CHALLENGES AND EXCEPTIONAL TIMES. COMBINED WITH OTHER MEASURES, WE ARE ANNOUNCING A TOTAL OF $82BILLION TO SUPPORT OUR PEOPLE AND OUR ECONOMY – THAT’S MORE THAN 3 PERCENT OF OUR ECONOMY. If you fall ill, or have to self-isolate, but you don’t qualify for EI (Emergency Intervention) or have access to sick leave, we’ll be PUTTING MONEY IN YOUR POCKET EVERY TWO WEEKS. If you have kids, we’re boosting the Canada Child Benefit. If you get the GST Credit, we’re boosting that too. And if you’re an employer of a small business who’s worried about paying staff, we’ll give you a temporary wage subsidy to keep people on the payroll. For everyone, those experiencing homelessness of fleeing domestic violence, farmers, young workers, or indigenous communities – this plan has targeted measures for you too. We’re putting out all the steps to protect jobs and the economy. And the same goes for people’s health and safety. I spoke with President Trump this morning, and we’ve agreed that both Canada and the United States will temporary restrict all non-essential travel across the US – Canada border. We closed our airport to people who aren’t Canadian citizens or Permanent Residents.
“We took action to support Canadians who are still abroad. And we built on what we’ve already done to invest in our healthcare system. Across the country, people like you are reaching out to support each other. You know we’re in this together. And so, does our team. We’ve been in constant contact with the Provinces and Territories, with indigenous leaders and communities, and international counterparts. Together, we can make sure that everyone has the support they need. This isn’t an easy time. But it’s going to get better. And until it does, let’s just focus on the steps ahead. Stay home to protect your health and your family’s health, but also to lift the load on our doctors and nurses. Ask how you can help out an elderly neighbor. And make sure that you’re taking time for yourself to rest and do what you need, to stay positive. For a little while, this will be our new normal. And that’s ok, because we’re in it together.” Quite inspiring and hopeful, wouldn’t you agree? We do not get to hear, or get such inspirational and vision-laden messages and actions from our Nigerian political leaders across all levels. Often times, the majority of the Nigerian people are left to fend for themselves and on their own to survive in crisis situation. With the magnitude of the Corona-virus, we only pray that it does not get worse than it already is, because if it does, it would not be a pleasant sight to behold.
There is currently no vaccine to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), even though there are news reports going round that chloroquine and some other common flu drugs can cure it, which health experts are yet to agree on, and only said it can be used for Clinical tests. But the best way to prevent such illness is to avoid being exposed to this virus. The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person. Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet). Through, respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, and these droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
Some of the steps advised to take to protect oneself include:
Clean Your Hands Often: Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Cover all surfaces of your hands and rub them together until they feel dry. Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands.
2. Avoid close contact: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. Put distance between yourself and other people if COVID-19 is spreading in your community.
Take steps to protect others by:
Stay home if you are sick, except to get medical care.
2. Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow. Throw used tissues in the trash. Immediately wash your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, clean your hands with a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
If you are sick: You should wear a facemask when you are around other people (e.g., sharing a room or vehicle) and before you enter a healthcare provider’s office. If you are not able to wear a facemask (for example, because it causes trouble breathing), then you should do your best to cover your coughs and sneezes, and people who are caring for you should wear a facemask if they enter your room. If you are NOT sick: You do not need to wear a facemask unless you are caring for someone who is sick (and they are not able to wear a facemask). Facemasks may be in short supply and they should be saved for caregivers.
Clean AND disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks. If surfaces are dirty, clean them: Use detergent or soap and water prior to disinfection.
Though, the above stated countries are countries with over 1,000 cases domestically, which are where these precautionary measures needs to be taken more seriously, but we also need to educate ourselves about them, while we pray that the case in Nigeria will not get to that level. There is also need for Health Officials in Nigeria to also take advantage of every areas of medicine and their professionals in various fields, like Pharmacists for instance, in addressing/managing this pandemic situation – as preventive steps.
To this end, we consider it necessary to share this piece of Pharmacists and Disaster Management situations by Akinmutola Abayomi, a Clinical Pharmacist in Nigeria. According to Abayomi: “Disasters are sudden and dangerous events that seriously interfere with the functioning of a community and cause human, material, economic or environmental damage that exceeds the ability of the community to manage its own resources. Often caused by nature, disasters can arise from people. Disaster management entails using available resources to deal with natural disasters through planning, preparation, implementation, monitoring and evaluation at each management stage, namely: Pre-disaster stage, activities include prevention, mitigation and preparedness; Stage during a disaster, activities include emergency response and recovery; Post-disaster stage, activities include rehabilitation and reconstruction.
“Disasters like pandemic (COVID-19), major storms, earthquakes, floods, heatwaves, wildfires, explosions and terrorist actions happen. As one of the health human resources, pharmacists are also involved in disaster management and should have plans in place that allow them to respond when these emergencies occur and to provide aid to others. In disaster management, Pharmacist can help alleviate many of these issues by interviewing, triaging, and assessing patient needs for treatment, in addition to having immediate access to medications. With pharmacists being one of the most accessible health care providers, it is vital for pharmacists to understand how their practices may be influenced during an emergency. Pharmacies are strategically located in visible areas throughout most communities and some community pharmacies are even open 24 hours. Therefore, pharmacists have the potential to provide care throughout the day and night.
“Pharmacist are a great resource in the healthcare sector, and this was reiterated in a video circulated last year of the Director-General World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom who noted that ‘Pharmacists play a wide variety of roles across the health sector including the ministries of health, regulatory agencies, research and development, quality assurance, pharmaceutical industries and procurement agencies. And that it is vital the training for Pharmacist include preparation for the wide variety of roles they can play beyond dispensing medicines.’
“Pharmacists' contributions to disaster health care are needed both in preparation for disasters and in reducing the consequences of an actual disaster, and can include: Conducting health education and promotion; Producing medicines and monitoring medicine use in specific situations such as the care of frail patients; Developing emergency guidelines for the treatment of casualties; Avoiding unnecessary stockpiling of pharmaceuticals; Ensuring proper packaging, storage, handling, labelling and dispensing of emergency supplies; Ensuring that the right medicine is received by the right person; Performing extensive clinical research, pharmacovigilance; and Preventing people from receiving expired medicines; as well as other activities.
“Therefore, the participation of pharmacists in the aforementioned areas will increase the resilience of the health system, effective control of the consequences of natural disasters and future preparations for such disasters will contribute to a gradual adherence to universal health coverage. As natural disasters and emergencies are inevitable and demand for health care providers during such times are high, pharmacists can aid in bridging the health care gap. They have a growing role in healthcare, the use of all disaster management techniques can improve healthcare regulation. With a special understanding of medicine, pharmacists can easily integrate with disaster relief, providing direct access to important resources. They not only have access to medicines, but also have the skills to participate in certain roles alongside other medical professionals.”
Zik Gbemre.
March 24, 2020.
We Mobilize Others to Fight for Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes