Covid–19 is the formal name of the disease caused by corona virus. About 80% of those infected with the virus develop mild flu-like symptoms and do not necessarily require hospitalization. About 14% have severe symptoms – fever, dry cough and shortness of breath and only 5% become critically ill and in some cases those older than 60 years or patients with pre-existing conditions (illnesses) are adversely affected.
The World Health Organization states that the key to preventing infections is hygiene. The droplets of mucous or saliva from an infected person cause an infection if they find their way into the nose, mouth or eyes. Washing hands with soap and running water, not touching the face, avoiding shaking hands, avoiding close contact with patients are part of the means to keep away the virus.
Covid–19 is causing reverberations across the world because it is spreading in the first world countries that have the best healthcare systems both in infrastructure and personnel.
But God-forbid if the virus were to hit Africa and that is sub-Saharan Africa in a major way, because how will we with our dilapidated health infrastructure and personnel and systems cope? It will be disastrous. Look at our deplorable hygiene standards in cities, towns, villages? And the indiscipline – who will follow the strict medical requirements?
Can any County in the Counties of the former Western Province of Kakamega, Bungoma, Busia, Vihiga and neighbouring Trans Nzoia cope with an epidemic of the magnitude of Covid–19, we submit not at all. All the health infrastructure, systems, personnel in our Counties are themselves not fit for purpose. They are there in name but in reality they just dysfunctional, derelict, a crying shame. How we disrespect ourselves?
Even if Covid–19 does not strike Kenya which is unlikely given our cavalier handling of who come and goes into our country the effects of the epidemic will surely affect us. China is the factory of the world and Kenya now depends on about 70% of its imports from China. With production in China at an all time low and no evidence in the horizon of coronavirus being smothered in the short term inevitably countries like Kenya that rely on Chinese imports on literally everything will start seeing shortages in shops, supermarkets of some goods.
Tourism, be it for leisure or business conferencing, will be severely curtailed as those who have the means and capacity will cut on travelling. Kenya Airways is in for harder turbulent economic times as air travel takes a hit courtesy of coronavirus.
We must prepare for the worst case scenario and hope that it does not come to pass if we have to be assured of our survival healthwise and in economic terms. If coronavirus persists and spreads, the global economy will go into severe recession and Kenya will be seriously affected given our over dependence on other economies like China and India.
Covid–19 is a wakeup call on our vulnerability and therefore what we need to do beyond rhetoric to ride the uncharted waters that now confront the world which is a global village where what happens in China will impact on all of us on all continents.