Carl Umegboro
THE Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, Mallam Abba Kyari who had tested positive to the ravaging COVID-19, died on Friday, April 17, 2020, and buried the next day in Gudu, in the Federal Capital Territory according to Islamic rites. Whilst President Buhari eulogized him in his tribute as an exceptional and dependable friend of over four decades, the masses express diverse views about the deceased. To some, he was a good man, to others, he was responsible for many hatchet jobs in the presidency particularly in decision making. However, they are all individual opinions. God will judge everyone according to his deeds.
Lest I forget, there are ugly reports floating in the social media with videos from the Gudu Cemetery where the corpse of the late Chief of Staff was interred that officials carelessly left behind the overall-wears, hand-gloves and face-masks they wore while carrying the remains at the burial ground without burning and burying the ashes in the ground. The authorities should investigate the allegations in the interest of the public. If true, it is not only condemnable but tantamount to professional misconduct.
In China and other countries of the world, such clothes and other wears must be returned to the NCDC officially to ensure they are submitted so that the needful will be done. It is wrong for those that attended to the assignment to go back freely without taking proper care of themselves and the environment. The environment deserved to be fumigation against spread of the contagion.
Back to the issue, prior to his demise, many in the polity didn’t believe that Coronavirus was existent in the country, Nigeria. Some had taken it that the contagion was probably a foreign-based pandemic, and thus, reluctant to comply with directives and preventive procedures of the health agencies.
The authorities, right from the World Health Organisation (WHO) provided preventive measures against the spread of the deadly Covid-19. The measures include to; stay at home; wash hands regularly; always sneeze in your elbow, and give space from one another. Many stylishly coined it to as a trending acronym ‘SWAG’ for public sensitization.
Despite that, quite a lot of the population are hesitant to take the preventive measures seriously as part of life in the meantime. Interestingly, these preventive measures are not out of range. They are activities one can embark upon as a routine way of life.
By the death of the a known figure in the society like the Chief of Staff to the President, certainly, the doubt over the existence of coronavirus codenamed Covid-19 has been dealt with for any willing and listening ears. It will make no sense for anyone to still doubt the existence of the pandemic.
In fact, by the updates on confirmed cases across the country from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), it entails that Coronavirus is real and doesn’t look at faces, position or tribes. The rich and poor have been infected. The leadership class as well as masses have been infected. Thus, the fight is a serious one.
As a way of escape, early detection has also proven to be a good remedy to the dreadful coronavirus. In other words, any strange illness with the symptoms of the pandemic as itemized by WHO should in his personal and public interest notify the NCDC offices in the state.
Though, it is said that Covid-19 affects different people in different ways, however, most infected people will develop mild to moderate symptoms like fever, tiredness, dry cough and breathing difficulties as common symptoms. Some people may also experience aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat and diarrhea.
According to health experts, on average, it takes 5 – 6 days from when someone is infected with the virus for symptoms to show, however, it can take up to 14 days.
Suffice to say that people that notice mild symptoms who are otherwise not sick should self-isolate. And seek medical attention if you have a fever, cough or difficulty breathing. Thus, as Abba Kyari unfortunately didn’t survive the contagion, it should be taken as a sacrificial lamb for many that never believe that the contagion exists.
It should be noted that people of all ages can be infected by the new coronavirus (Covid-19). However, older people and people with pre-existing medical conditions or health challenges such as asthma, diabetes, heart diseases appear to be more vulnerable to becoming severely infected with the virus. That is to say, there is no better time to improve the immune system against infection of the contagion.
As for the governments, Abba Kyari’s death should be taken as a clarion call to upgrade our health sector by improving on our health facilities. It is possible that if the deceased were flown abroad as it is the pattern for government officials, the complications might not have gotten so worse to lead to his death. Unfortunately, movement restriction was active in virtually all the foreign countries our public officeholders have made their permanent hospitals. On this note, let the needful be done.
From reports, the former COS died at a specialist hospital in Lagos which is adjudged as one of the best in the country and may compete with some private hospitals abroad. Incidentally, such a well-equipped clinic is not many in the country to warrant flying the Chief of Staff all the way from Abuja to Lagos when the condition must have become highly complicated instead of early treatment. Possibly, early attention by the specialist hospital could have saved him.
Thus, our ruling class should have a paradigm shift by now at ensuring all our medical facilities are upgraded and such category of clinic available in the 36 states of the federation and Federal capital territory with personnel well trained and remunerated too. Things must change for the best in health sector and all other critical sector too. Nonetheless, may Abba Kyari’s soul rest in peace.
Umegboro is a public affairs analyst and Associate, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (United Kingdom). 08023184542-SMS only.