OPINION: THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF CULTURAL AND TRADITIONAL PRACTICES ON THE SPREAD OF CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) IN THE GAMBIA

On 30th December 2019, the attention of the World Health Organisation (WHO) was called to the  outbreak of a coronavirus epidemic in Wuhan City, China, which was spreading through human- human interaction. This novel coronavirus (COVID-19), a threat to world health, prompted WHO- China Joint Mission to warn China and the international community to put in place urgent and  necessary measures to combat the outbreak.

On March 11, 2020, the WHO declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Until that time, West Africa was  not hit by COVID-19. However, the ‘honeymoon’ period has ended. On March 17, 2020, the  Ministry of Health confirmed the country’s first case of COVID-19. Up to March 29, 2020, the  total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases was 4, all imported, with one death. According to the  Minister of Health, in a Press Briefing held on 1 st April 2020, 2 of the COVID-19 patients have  recovered and would soon be discharged. Thus, currently The Gambia has 1 positive COVID-19  patient undergoing treatment.

While the infection rate in the Gambia is under control, we cannot go to sleep. There must be  concerted efforts, coordinated approach and adequate, robust preparedness and response  strategy in place. The challenge in the fight against COVID-19 is compounded by the rapid spread  of myths and misleading information through social media and other unofficial sources. The  Gambia’s cultural, traditional and religious practices allow for a closer interaction at the  household level, ceremonies, “bantaba” chatting (gathering place), religious and community  gatherings, “osusu” (women microfinance platform) or street camps, just to name a few. These  gatherings provide a fertile ground for the spread of COVID-19 and an exponential increase in  our infection rate.

The resort to seeking the help of herbalists, spiritualists and other traditional healers, in our quest  to prevent ourselves from contracting COVID-19, can be a serious stumbling block to the fight, as  witnessed during the Ebola crisis. The attitude of ‘mashallah’ (for the sake of help), lodging family  members and visitors affected and not adhering to physical distancing, frequent hand washing  or sanitizing procedures as advised by health experts can increase the widespread of the disease  and hamper its containment in the Gambia. Also, some people did not take the matter with  seriousness; rather they pin their hopes on prayers and with the belief that black people have  strong immune system that can fight COVID 19. Prayers are must but implementing expert  guidelines as measures from WHO can drastically eliminate the ‘invisible assassin’ and enemy of  progress. Cultural and traditional myths are stuck in people’s core belief systems and views in all  communities and the world over. However, myths and beliefs provide a false sense of hope or  paralyse actions of the response strategy.

To avert an environment where misinformation and myths about COVID-19 are peddled, the  Ministry of Health, as countermeasure, should intensify its efforts on community-based  programming and awareness creation; vigorously engage traditional and spiritual healers on  etiquettes and awareness on WHO implementing guidelines; and use every available medium  and platform to encourage the people to listen only to health experts and also religiously follow  all the Ministry’s guidelines for prevention. Certainly ‘prevention is better than cure’.

•           We should be on very highlight because of our geographical proximity to Senegal which has, as  of  2nd April 2020 and from WHO updates 190, confirmed positive cases with no death. This is a  hreat to The Gambia and makes us highly vulnerable to the COVID-19.

The cross border traffic  of persons and goods, coupled with the cultural and traditional practices we share and celebrate  together, have the potential to increase the risk of the rapid spread of the virus. Furthermore,  the porosity of the border with Senegal can exacerbate the situation if stringent measures are  not taken to significantly restrict and curtail cross border movement of people or back door  entrance would rapidly smuggle the virus to the country.

While I commend the Ministry of Health of the Gambia, in collaboration with its partners, for the  great efforts they are doing in the fight against COVID-19, I urge it to learn from best practices  that were employed during the Ebola crisis. Thus, activating the Ebola plan to the current  situation is a good move that would strengthen engagement with religious leaders who could be  a great entry point for public attention and education on the COVID-19. We believe in and trust  our religious leaders and their active engagement, coupled with their enormous influence, can  greatly aid the fight against Covid-19. Local community leaders, village heads, district Chiefs and  respected elders in the community will be of great importance to combating the spread of this  virus. There should be all-inclusive approach, especially in how the most vulnerable and  marginalised in homes and communities are targeted with information from press briefings. The  Government taking the lead in the awareness and response strategy, and though the  implementation of one health approach, opens windows of opportunities for collaboration in  building the resilience of the society to risk management rather than crisis management.

Collaborative efforts, continuous community policing to fight together by acting with knowledge

and adhering to the WHO guidelines, will enable us win this costly fight against Covid-19.

I give a standing ovation to all the frontline workers, Government and its collaborators and  individuals for their unflinching support and cooperation. We will win over Covid-19. Yes, We  Can.