Although it is a trying period for Nigerians, the current challenge brought about by Covid-19 has created a new vista of opportunities both in traditional medicine evolution and other endeavours; ELEOJO IDACHABA writes.
Like a thief in the night, it caught everyone pants down as it swept through the entire globe like wildfires do. Already, over a million lives have been wasted by this pandemic which was first noticed in Wuhan, China, early January 2020. This is the coronavirus, otherwise identified as Covid-19, the latest disease that has dominated discourse in both local and international media lately.
Although its devastating consequences appear to bite harder in the western countries like US, France, Britain, China, and others, Africa and Nigeria in particular are not spared its fangs as the death toll from Africa rises on a daily basis.
In Nigeria, in particular, the number of deaths, according to official figures released by the Federal Ministry of Health, stands at six presently. The number of index cases is in the neighborhood of 276, but the bad news is that as more persons who had contact with earlier cases are being identified, the number may increase with time.
Govt’s reaction
The federal government’s reaction is not only spontaneous, but timely in order to preserve lives. To that extent, tight-belt measures in the form of lockdown of offices and event centres, sit-at-home order and social distancing were put in place with their excruciating toll on the people, especially the daily income earners that have been compelled to obey the essential government directive.
However, Blueprint Weekend’s investigation shows that in the midst of all these, for workers and people with enterprising spirits, tough times, they say, don’t last; rather tough people do. This is the mindset that appears to boost what is now known as creativity of ‘local content’ in the world of paramedics and other areas.
Minister throws more light
It was in this light that the minister of industry, trade and investment, Otumba Niyi Adebayo, last week disclosed that the country “has a lot of lessons to learn from the current Covid-19 pandemic and its associated global challenge.” He said, “Nigerians must continue to work towards building an economy that is resilient and innovative. This is to curtail the negative impact on the manufacturing, trade and related sectors. This would withstand the impact of the risk and vulnerabilities that are accruable from an increasingly global economy.”
To that extent, he noted that there is a need to have a post Covid-19 committee that would address some of the challenges as the country prepares for the future.
Adebayo at another forum earlier in the week said the federal government had opened discussions with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company, an indigenous vehicle plant and other key local vehicle manufacturing companies to produce ventilators in the country all in reaction to stem the Covid-19 pandemic.
According to him, “We are also engaging our indigenous car manufacturers at this time to prepare them to tweak their operations to begin the manufacture of ‘Made in Nigeria ventilators and critical medical equipment in the fight against the virus.” This is even as the president, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Engr. Mansur Ahmed, disclosed that manufacturers had increased Nigeria’s domestic production capacity of face masks from two million in February to 27 million as at March ending.
Bold initiatives
Just as the spread of Covid-19 pandemic started, a trado-medical practitioner based in Abuja, Dr. Ben Amodu, said the current challenge has brought out the efficacy of African herbs. Amodu who is the managing director of Al Hakim Research Centre, Wuse, Abuja, told Blueprint Weekend that, “The reality of the moment has thrown up the vaccine I had developed over 10 years ago that is capable of treating coronavirus. One thing I want to say is that this disease is caused by a virus and that is my area of specialisation. A week after the whole world began to talk about the virus, I wrote a letter to the government to intimate them that I have a vaccine that can prevent the virus from incubating on any individual and ultimately prevent fatality. This vaccine when taken, remains in the throat and prevents any virus from gaining entrance into the lungs or stomach through the mouth or nose. By that, the usual symptom of the virus chocking victims to death is removed.”
He said further that his vaccine got the endorsement of the World Health Organisation (WHO) during one of the meetings they had in Ethiopia a few years ago after which a country, Ghana, keyed into the efficacy of his vaccine. He, however, said unfortunately, the federal government “is yet to realise that there is a WHO-approved remedy to handle the symptom locally.”
It is not only Dr. Amodu that is demonstrating this entrepreneurial spirit in trado-medical evolution at the moment. Madam Kafilat Ajiboye, a popular herbs seller in Kubwa village also in the FCT, has shown that whatever western vaccines can do, local herbs can also do same and even better. According to her, two of the most sought-after herbal concoctions by her teeming customers has enjoyed phenomenal patronage, particularly during the current Covid-19 pandemic.
She said, “I got into this business by accident but eventually everything has turned out nice today. This is what is keeping the entire family going on especially at this trying moment of lockdown when other business channels are closed. Because my customers knew me before now, many of them now call me on phone to describe their location for me. For those around Kubwa, I manage to move round even though it involves a lot of trekking, but it seems the income is even better now than before.
“There is no time of the day that I don’t have customers at my shop, there is hardly ever any time for rest in this season because everybody wants to protect themselves by taking herbs that can handle stubborn sicknesses like Corona virus.”
Optimism
Former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, whose son was among the earlier index contacts of the pandemic expressed optimism that Nigeria would overcome the perilous times judging from what he called ‘Nigerian resilience in difficult times.’
In a statement he issued on Sunday last week, he said, “The news that Nigeria last week discharged the Italian index case of Corona Virus in the country after testing negative for the disease is yet another milestone confirmation that the Nigerian spirit can overcome any tough challenge. This is coming even the whole world is yet to celebrate a known cure for this disease.”
Time for creativity
According to an online organisation, Kickstarter Campaign on Creativity, “As Covid-19 pandemic brings everyday life all over the world to a standstill, thousands of creators are continuing with Kickstarter campaigns to fund their creative works. Their perseverance is inspiring and important.
“We understand the gravity of this pandemic and we are also processing how canceled events, exhibitions, and works are hurting freelance creativities, commission-based artists, and those who supplement their passion projects with unsalaried jobs. Supporting creative work is still so important and there are many ways to do that right now. In Kickstarter, we are seeing our community elevating creators’ projects, reaching out with kind words on our comments section, bring understanding about potential production delays and coming together digitally to see these projects through.
“Creators, your number one priority should be the health and well-being of yourself, your team and your loved ones. Bear in mind that you’re not alone, even if you’re isolated.”
Face masks production
Following the entry of the virus into the country and the need for taking preventive measures, the prices of face masks suddenly went beyond reach. Consequently, a female tailor, Jacintha Kakaide, who lives in Aba in Abia state, took it upon herself to produce masks with local materials, especially for street kids and adults at affordable prices. The tailor said she was moved by the low affording power of many in her community as the price of masks rose to N600 as against N150 earlier.
This is even as the Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, according to a statement by its president-general, Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, advised all Igbo to avoid using any masks brought in from China except the ones made in Aba.
…Cross River too
Similarly, in the spirit of enterprise, the Cross River state government-owned garment factory started mass-producing face masks and distributing them freely to residents.
Justifying the move, Governor Ben Ayade said the idea was a novel one, but part of efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the state and also a way of reducing the burden on the people.
A statement signed by Christian Ita, his media aide, later said residents would not be allowed to move anywhere within the state without the protective device as from April 3.
“No citizen or resident of the state would be allowed to leave home without a face mask from Friday, April 3, 2020. Failure to adhere to this directive would lead to the arrest and quarantine of the offender for 14 days. The Cross River state garment factory has been mandated to produce face masks to be freely distributed to citizens and residents alike to meet with the demand.
“Those who for one reason or the other are unable to get masks from government before the new restrictions kick in, are advised to purchase theirs from shops selling the item,” the statement read in part.
Opportunites
Blueprint Weekend’s investigations further revealed that as a result of the sit-at-home order brought about by the pandemic, a lot of married men who hitherto spent little time with their family members are not only compelled to spend quality time at home, but have taken time to learn some domestic chores like peeling melon seeds and palm oil seeds used for family menu. According to Justice Amadin, a resident of Giri in Abuja, since his job is not among those on essential services, he stays back to join his wife to peel melon seeds. He told Blueprint Weekend that, “I work in a law firm as secretary, and so for days now, I have been at home. One thing I have learnt in this lockdown is the patience to stay indoors throughout most part of the day. As a result of this, I join my wife and her niece who lives with us to peel melon seed. Ordinarily, I don’t like doing it, but because there is really no place to move to, I decided to engage myself in doing that. Honestly, it is addictive. It’s something I have learnt within this period.”
It seems Covid-19 with its problems also has some opportunities as new discoveries and inventions now trail the moment.