BY VICTOR IZEKOR
Despite daily reports of deaths from Corona Virus (COVID-19) pandemic and from new variants of the virus in addition to visible incalculable damage to the economic, spiritual and social activities of the people, there are still deviants to the realities on ground. They never believe the disease exist and where it does it would fizzle out.
This is more worrisome especially, in the light of recent warning by the World Health Organization (WHO), that Africa is unprepared in the face of an imminent outbreak of a third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in the continent.
Sadly enough, Borno state is a typical example where inspite of the state government and its High powered Covid-19 Committee efforts to control the spread of the disease, most people either by design or default are deviants. Those who ought to know either refuse to know or just don’t want to know. For example, the mandatory rules for the control as well prevention of the disease as stipulated by the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) are treated with ignominy. This became more pronounced in the state after the exit of the last nationwide lockdown.
Even some institutions in Maiduguri, the state capital that hitherto during the peak period of the pandemic were complaint, have now assumed the toga of non-compliant. Examples are the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) otherwise, designated Centre of Excellence, the State Specialist Hospital, Umaru Shehu Hospital as well other medical institutions in the state.
Previously no visitor was allowed to enter any of these institutions without wearing facemask and at each gate of entry, there was a basin of water and hand sanitizer. And as one stepped into the premises of there institutions, you are confronted with members of staff and patients all wearing facemasks. Today, the contrary is the case.
Also guilty of non-compliance are federal and state institutions including the ministries, parastatals and para-military.
The adherence to the rules in Government circle is cosmetic and deceptive. At public functions, one observes all the invited guests wearing facemask and in some cases, maintaining social distance in the arraignment of seats. After such functions many become violators of the Covid-19 protocols.
Neither are the educational institutions especially, those in the state capital nor guilty as charged. From primary to tertiary institutions, the breach is pervading from the students to the teachers.
Come to think of it, the churches and mosques that ought to show good example are more guilty. In the churches and mosques, obedience to the rules has become an “Intolerable Act”. The leadership of the two sects (Islam and Christianity) in the state has reneged in its responsibility to demonstrate good example as it is as guilty of the breach as the adherents. In both the churches and mosques, the hitherto adherence to the Covid-19 pandemic protocols which was once a gospel has become anathema. The preacher in the pulpit is not wearing the facemask, the Imams leading the prayer in the mosque is the same, while members the congregation nor the listeners maintaining social distance.
Above all, members of the public have no good example to follow as the falcon no longer hear the falcona. The market places, the motor parks are all guilty.
Perhaps the erroneous belief that the virus does not exist and subsequent discovery of new variants is a fallacy has compounded the situation. Added to this is the belief from certain quarter rightly or wrongly that the scotching sun of most part of Borno state would neutralise the life of the virus. This is the dilemma of some people.
It would be recalled that with advent of the first index case of the virus in the state, through an NGO worker in Pulka town, the state government took various measures to contain the disease. There include the establishment of the state Covid-19 High Powered Committee, public enlightenment on the dangers of the virus, maintaining social distancing, wearing of face masks, avoiding, hand shake and others.
The state government along with NGOs, partners, organizations and individuals provided various material including facemasks, hand sanitizers to individuals and groups.
However, it must be admitted that though the state government from the onset at the discovery of the virus in the state responded adequately to containing it, but the will power to bring offenders to book was lacking. Even when rules were rolled out, the implementation of such are not properly monitored for result.
It is perhaps the kid glove attitude of the authorities in taming the shrew that has finally led to the present non-charlant disposition of the people.
There need to make a reverse if we must avoid the worst.
Lagos state is a shrining example of a state that has demonstrated the capacity and capability to observance of the Covid-19 protocols and effective sanctions of the offenders. Borno is the most challenged state today in Nigeria with multi-dimensional problems. She cannot afford addition. Hence, the need to be Covid-19 protocols compliant.
Victor Izekor is a journalist and public affairs analyst and writes from Maiduguri at victorizekor@gmail.com
