Recent news coming out of Europe and USA in the past days shows that the Western countries are beginning to shift away from debates about testing, lockdowns and social distancing to talks on antibodies, vaccines and even cure. From the UK, Germany, France and Italy to US, attention has moved from social mitigation to therapeutic cure and prevention. More resources and finances are now being devoted to finding a cure or vaccine as these countries take steps to reopen their economies and return life back to normal.
The WHO has declared Africa to be the next epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic. It has estimated about 300,000 deaths from Africa. It's obvious that at the rate we have now, if we have 300,000 deaths (God forbid) we would be looking at about 10million infections throughout Africa. Can we be able to test for 10million people? If the western countries move away from testing, will this not leave Africa at the mercy of the Chinese who have been caught donating infected kits?
Nigeria, as the most populated country in Africa has a possibility of having at least a third of the infections in Africa which means we will require not less than 3million test kits to be able to diagnose the infected in our populace. Where are the industries to mass produce these kits? What about the PPEs and masks to protect our frontline workers? Shall we also rely on China to provide those?
The reality is that Africa in general and Nigeria especially runs the risk of becoming the testing ground for various vaccines and drugs that might come up if matters get to the point WHO predicts. It will not be strange to see foreign countries hide under a seeming benevolence to turn the African continent to a giant lab for their different solutions. Over the years, we have seen biology, biochemistry and even medical lab graduates take up jobs as wig sellers and makeup artists just to make ends meet in the absence of jobs in their specific fields while we encourage entertainment shows upon shows and our politicians pile loot upon loot, leaving the society to rot. The way forward looks really bleak. We lack the capacity to test for diagnosis not to mention for antibodies or plasma. We have elevated mundane factors above merit and excellence in our body politic.
Thankfully though there is light at the end of the tunnel. A recent research has shown that the polio vaccine seems to have some components that might be able to fight the coronavirus. This coupled with the skirmishes of efficacy witnessed in the administration of chloroquine to patients may mean that the infection and mortality rate may remain low among Africa's young population which has been exposed to those drugs lately.
The light though might be that of a grenade or indeed a way out. Only time will tell.

Interesting.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.