As
the global coronavirus outbreak continues to upend daily life, China has shown
that while it may not be stopped, it can be controlled.
The
whole world including Gambia is learning daily from other countries, a key
lesson that must be learned is that sustained control of COVID-19 requires
speed, supplies and transparency.
It
is very necessary for Gambian authorities not to lower guide just because the
country is not struggling yet to contain the spread of the virus. Neither
should it display inability to procurer testing kits, increase screening and
quarantine facilities across the country’s entry points.
However,
the time for blame game has past. We must strengthen our surveillance across
all entry points – from the land, air and sea. The government must take a
hard-earn decision to ban flights from all affected countries temporarily so as
to effectively control the spread of the virus.
Commentators
believe the first reported case of COVID-19 is due to complacency. However,
diligent efforts must be harness to trace all contacts made by “case-one” since
her arrival in Gambia.
In
whatever manner responses the President had given could be calculated as being
a bit of hide-and-seek. This is because response had been slow, resource
mobilisation inadequate and political courage minimal.
Until
yesterday, one month after the first case was reported in Dakar, the country
was kept in the dark and measures to stop the spread remain uncertain.
Coronavirus
has created a state of confusion, a disorder that would be felt in the national
economy and could also plunge daily activities deeply into a state of panic.
It
is not yet lost; the Chinese attempt at containing the spread of the virus is
succeeding. Two months from the first reported cases, the number of daily
infections is gradually reducing. The Chinese had demonstrated lot of political
courage and transparency and the Gambia need to learn from them. The fight has
just begun against the COVID-19 and Gambia needs to move with speed provide
gargets needed to stop the spread.
At
this height of the virus marching forcefully into Gambia,“harr ko si kanam”
could too dangerous and will not help with the fight against the pandemic.
“If
they’re all getting infected and getting sick, we lose one of the most
important ways to stop people from dying.”
MinnPost
