health talk:with Dr Johannes Marisa
The Covid-19 pandemic continues to ravage the entire world unabated with Brazil and United States leading with the daily deaths. Close to 700 000 people have already lost their lives, but putting into cognisance that there are so many undocumented deaths in other countries. Zimbabwe has recorded 53 deaths so far from the Covid-19 with 3 092 cases as of Friday. The virus is a menace especially in people with common co-morbidities like diabetes mellitus, heart disease, hypertension, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease as well as HIV and Aids. It is time to remind such patients to observe strict public health measures if the war against Covid-19 is to be won. Local transmission is now a nuisance which threatens to attack the entire nation.
It is now seven months after coronavirus was reported in China. So many panicky actions were taken by many countries and by March, almost all countries were in lockdowns which helped slow the virus. The Chinese built massive hospitals in one week while United Kingdom had to build the National Health Service (NHS) Nightingale Hospital within just nine days. Of course, Britain is a developed country which cannot be compared with us as Zimbabwe. However, God seemed to be on our side since coronavirus seemed less virulent in Africa and we were given more than half a year to start preparing for eventualities. However, no major changes have been noted in the health sector. We have not done much as a nation to contain and mitigate against Covid-19 yet the virus is now beginning to kick us left, right and centre. It is not government alone needed to put things in order but also the corporate world has not sought to understand what is needed by the front-liners in order for them to execute their duties well. We could have been better off if we had paid attention to the following:
The request for personal protective equipment has not been met: Since January, we have been clamouring for PPE to be availed to all front-liners regardless of where they are operating from. Covid-19 calls for national collaboration and both private and public practitioners should be assisted with PPE. With government and council clinics grounded because of nurses’ strike, the private practitioners are left exposed and their failure to detect or contain the virus means massive community spread. Why is it that up to now, this important request has not been met by the whole nation that has a whole ministry of health, multi-million dollar corporates, rich non-governmental organisations, church organisations, rich individuals? Taking six months crying for the same things like PPE is not only ridiculous, but very embarrassing as a nation.
Incessant disputes between health employers and workers: Zimbabwe has witnessed continuous fights where health workers are up in arms with government or local government when it comes to remuneration. In countries like Italy, France and Spain, retired medical staff had to voluntarily return to work to assist the nation during the red days of Covid-19. The acrimony between the employer and employees leaves us in a capricious position as a nation. How can we contain the virus when we do not have a functioning public health system? How can Harare contain Covid-19 if council clinics and hospitals are not functioning? Medical staff have now been at the forefront of contracting Covid-19 at hospitals like Parirenyatwa, Mpilo, UBH. Clinics like Mbare, Sunningdale and Mabvuku have reported positive staff members who unfortunately work without adequate PPE. Instead of chasing the virus, it is the medical personnel that is now being chased by the virus. Community spread will surely worsen.
Medical practitioners as front-liners: Medical practitioners are the front-liners in the Covid-19 war and any other bodies should follow behind. Corporates and organisations that want to assist should at least get some understanding of what is needed by the practitioners. We all desire to contain the virus. Lack of adequate resources like daily sanitisers, gloves, masks will transfer the burden down to the patients who will have to meet the costs at the end. In the meantime, the general practitioners in private practice are the most exposed clinicians as they are the first port of call considering that the public health system is on its knees.
In view of the above, we ought to work together as a matter of fact. This is the time for extraordinary measures in response to extraordinary catastrophes. Do not experiment with the virus, it will surely ground you sooner than later. It is sad that we continue to lose people from this diabolical virus. The nation has already been robbed of great minds, budding professionals. At least we ought to consider all options available to contain the virus.
Keep safe wherever you are. Practise good hygiene, observe social distancing and always assume that the person standing next to you has Covid-19!
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lJohannes Marisa is a medical practitioner, a public health practitioner who can be accessed on: [email protected].
