By Uche Anyanwagu
Fellow Humans of Nigeria,
1. In the coming days, I am going to share my thoughts on the current COVID-19 pandemic. Firstly, on the way, it affects us, and secondly, on the way our government has handled or is handling the issue.
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2. Like most of you, I am deeply worried. For the sake of posterity, I am going to put my thoughts and suggestions here so that even long after I am gone, when my great-grandchildren (if I am lucky to have any biological child) check this space, they will know my stand – no matter how unpopular it then was.
.
3. I write as a concerned Nigerian. I also write as a troubled Epidemiologist. I know that this pandemic has thrown many unbaked, pre-baked, half-baked and over-baked Epidemiologists to the fray but permit me to tell you my journey.
.
4. I was trained in Nigeria and after some internal battles, enrolled to specialize in Public Health. I took the Primary Fellowship Exam of National Postgraduate Medical College and made the best result in the country, winning a coveted prize.
.
5. I went on for a second Masters degree in Applied Epidemiology in the UK under the Commonwealth Scholarship, and later, a Ph.D. in Clinical Epidemiology in the same University under another scholarship.
.
6. I have taken time to clean my trumpet so that you will understand the two positions that I speak from – a Nigerian, and an Epidemiologist. I have no one in government to talk to. Even if I do, this government is not wont to listen.
.
7. It is no news that Major General Buhari on Sunday, 29 March 2020, announced a 14-day lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja, which was further extended on Monday, 13 April 2020, for another 14 days.
.
8. According to his speech on both occasions, both lockdowns were necessary to curb the spread of coronavirus in the nation. As at last night, there were 442 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria, with a total of 13 deaths and 152 persons discharged.
.
.
(To be continued)
Photo credit: Buhari’s Facebook page.
Fellow Humans of Nigeria,
1. In the coming days, I am going to share my thoughts on the current COVID-19 pandemic. Firstly, on the way, it affects us, and secondly, on the way our government has handled or is handling the issue.
.
2. Like most of you, I am deeply worried. For the sake of posterity, I am going to put my thoughts and suggestions here so that even long after I am gone, when my great-grandchildren (if I am lucky to have any biological child) check this space, they will know my stand – no matter how unpopular it then was.
.
3. I write as a concerned Nigerian. I also write as a troubled Epidemiologist. I know that this pandemic has thrown many unbaked, pre-baked, half-baked and over-baked Epidemiologists to the fray but permit me to tell you my journey.
.
4. I was trained in Nigeria and after some internal battles, enrolled to specialize in Public Health. I took the Primary Fellowship Exam of National Postgraduate Medical College and made the best result in the country, winning a coveted prize.
.
5. I went on for a second Masters degree in Applied Epidemiology in the UK under the Commonwealth Scholarship, and later, a Ph.D. in Clinical Epidemiology in the same University under another scholarship.
.
6. I have taken time to clean my trumpet so that you will understand the two positions that I speak from – a Nigerian, and an Epidemiologist. I have no one in government to talk to. Even if I do, this government is not wont to listen.
.
7. It is no news that Major General Buhari on Sunday, 29 March 2020, announced a 14-day lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and Abuja, which was further extended on Monday, 13 April 2020, for another 14 days.
.
8. According to his speech on both occasions, both lockdowns were necessary to curb the spread of coronavirus in the nation. As at last night, there were 442 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported in Nigeria, with a total of 13 deaths and 152 persons discharged.
.
.
(To be continued)
Photo credit: Buhari’s Facebook page.
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