The Independent Uganda: You get the Truth we Pay the Price
On the other hand, the existence of high quality medical care in rich countries means that many people who would have died of diabetes or high blood pressure or other lifestyle diseases are kept alive through medical services. They also live to old age. These are the two categories that either die or are badly affected by COVID. It is this category of people that scared the West leading to massive shutdowns of the countries in order to slow down the pandemic. Poor Africa got scared and followed similar draconian measures yet they were largely not necessary; at least not to the degree we did.
One year later, this is the lesson we should walk away with and begin to reopen our churches, schools, bars etc. When I travel to my village I never hear stories of people dying of cough. Yet I think there is COVID there. I visit markets where people trade without social distancing, sanitising or wearing masks. Even the few election rallies we had did not lead to the spike we saw in the USA. We therefore adopted measures meant for countries with old populations who are also filled with large numbers of people with preexisting conditions.
We can say that our governments did make a mistake that was understandable. Here was a new disease with little information about it. Therefore from this perspective, the shutdowns are understandable. However what is intriguing is that one year later and with mountains of evidence and hindsight, we are slow to change our attitude. Schools, bars, etc. remain closed to the detriment of many income earners. Children remain home yet they are the least affected demographic in the COVID killing brackets.
What can Uganda do based on what we have learnt in the last one year? First we need to open the country back to normal. We can emphasise use of masks, sanitising and social distancing in public buildings. We can also insist schools put in place some procedures to reduce the risk of infection. In fact this is better for the kids and their parents because both now go to markets where these procedures are not followed. Therefore the kids or their parents can bring the disease from markets to homes. One wonders the wisdom of government of Uganda fearing children getting COVID from schools but not from markets where they are not spending most of their time.
The biggest problem most nations of Africa face is a lack of originality in the design and implementation of practically every policy except sex and marriage. We tend to copy and paste the solutions based on textbook theories, which are based on the Western experience – an experience that does not reflect our reality. COVID has taught us that we need to study our reality and design a response based on our specific reality. Will anyone hear this message?
****
amwenda@independent.co.ug
Andrew. You can really contradict yourself! I get a feeling that sometimes you don’t take time to reflect on your arguments, but if you do, then goes that some of your arguments are motivated to achieve a certain purpose rather than being objective. For example, In just less than two months ago, you justified Museveni’s high-handed way of handling Bobi Wine and also banning campaigns in some districts. Reason? You presented Covid-19 as the death sentence in uganda. That the way it spreads, kills etc, your line of thinking about it is different today! You have so many of such contributions in your analysis, which makes some of us wonder why? Other than that, I agree with your analysis article. I add the factor of weather to the reasons: There is a strong correlation between cold conditions and the spread of covid. In the west the spread in winter was different from summer. Tropical African countries such as South Africa, Zimbabwe, Rwanda etc have recorded higher rates of infection & death mostly during cold conditions.
And the Theme?
you are able to work out several reasons for the outcome because some individuals who know about
contagion did the needful
a name was given, the ability to survive and mode of spread
From the risk assessment measures were put in place (transmission based measures)
naturally our dear ones who could not effectively defend themselves have left us
The overreaction was only when individuals died from activities of enforcement as opposed to the virus; i wish you could analyse these unfortunate incidents
You could also analyse the level of unpreparedness for those whose illness necessitated hospitalization
Needless to mention the failure to achieve the desirable compliance
well we hope you have already received the inoculation, the one other citizens are anxiously waiting for; they may not be as strong as you imagine, remember most are malnourished
So Uganda’s reaction to COVID can be described as FOMO. We watched people on other continents taking precautions and we jumped on the bandwagon.
Please for a change let us not take people for granted
it was necessary to take precautions:
1 for every outbreak the assumption is that there is something new with the bug, that has enabled it defeat so many of the infected to die in numbers bigger than the usual
2. For every infection individuals fight with first line measures, then secondary measures, the out come can be no disease, disease and recover or disease and die
The contagion was known by name (one internationally given) and so was its behavior, the measures to control it had to be similar
A Nigerian voice was heard saying “COVID go away your name is not known here and so is the way to destroy you” did Ugandans have an alternative?
For a country with minimal facilities, it was in order to prevent as many people as possible from coming into contact with an invader, because the outcome was not known
Please note that those who are affected report to hospital and find it full, the situation could have been worse if no attempt was made to put in place measures to stop transmission of an invader that enters the body through breathing, moth and eyes (just like measles)
Have you attempted to establish the cause of death for all who die outside hospital or in facilities where the diagnosis is not clear?
just talk to individuals upcountry, the number of burials may have risen
We have got several benefits from the attempt, Ugandans now wash their hands, A number wear masks. Some have learnt to avoid unnecessary movements and gatherings
We are actually worried about the effect of children going back to school
The other issue is that one had to be a person that most people believe in, to deliver the message; some listened in protest but still the message was delivered
I however still believe that involvement of the village team at an early stage would have delivered sustained compliance
Now that the bug is changing faster than a chameleon, let us not be complacent, each of us is in charge of their lives, the problem some still visit people who have chosen to isolate themselves
If you cannot avoid this , start announcing your presence from a distance so that the vulnerable enhance their protection
Let some of these claims (possible decoy) not be an excuse to limit inoculation of persons
Now that elections are over in Uganda, no fear of Bobbi Wine mass rallies we can open up again. Covid19 is not bad after all despite killing a few members of my immediate family last month.
Covid-19 is a result of infection due to a virus SAS-CoV-2
It kills those not able to defend themselves
it spreads by aerosol and contact if the part of the body that is contaminated with virus touches soft
parts (mucous membranes of eye , nose and mouth)
It cannot be good
Let us separate politics from health related issues
many people have lost dear ones and we need to keep reminding people to observe control measures
using an approach that will make them accept the practice (and force cannot be part of this; that is
why people who had latrines in the 60s and 70s, abandoned them when the enforcement
disappeared)
If you have ever had a handshake [or shared a pen] and the next thing you do is to run looking for
soap and water, then you will understand what it means to relate with poor/no hand washing/hygiene
(no apologies on that point)
To ease or not to ease is a responsibility of those monitoring transmission of the virus
people are enjoying themselves while observing SOPs
Hm
Thank you for preparing us for the guessing act(in relation to COVID-19 response) so it will have to be this way,
say some thing today, make old citizens who have served for so long wait in vain, then change plan
” I will consider dear to me he who…”
Not surprised that now you introduce a story of six years ago with another phantasy
Some old eyes see through these schemes
Well in a way one reflects on events and comes to appreciate the effort of dedicated personnel
as I waited to get a service at a private not for profit facility of good repute, i observed the calm among the
senior citizens
The health care workers were slow but sure, they respected clients, and administered the jab
I then realized this was indeed an accredited site despite the humble setting
I pray that all the clients fair well to report for the second dose of the vaccine
This is a consolation after going through so much psychological trauma this year!
The beauty about health related issues is that they have a scientific basis
To those who took offence about the reaction, the story repeats itself
Sadly enough claiming even those who have tried their best to comply, indeed compliance at individual level,
within an indifferent community, may not solve a problem
Rest in Peace dear agemate , thank you for living up to the oath, for the kindness that kept many smiling
even during difficult times
Not sure if it is over reaction anymore
after failing to convince a cyclist who runs errands for me to take a covid-19 test, he has reciprocated by educating me on how to treat a condition of (fever, flue like illness cough) as follows
The ingredients comprise
1 . akakomera (? Cedar; exposure to cedar and pine woods and pine resin (colophony) can cause asthma and chronic lung disease)
2. Avocado leaves
3. Mango leaves
4. Guava leaves
5. Jack fruit leaves
These are boiled and the steam is inhaled in a closed chamber, the remainder is boiled further and then used as a drink
We may have to identify the safety related issues of this life saving concoction
well for further clarification;
cidero, as described as ?cedar, is not par of the pine woods; it is described as Cupressus lusitanica (Cedro blanco=white Cedar in Mexican/Cypress [family: Cupressaceae]
so in the concoction described, the community is using it to treat cough, a practice observed elsewhere
however a study from Cameroon observed increase in liver enzymes(markers of some damage) and decrease in blood cells and protein levels in treated animals
(Ngo Tek Gerald (2013),….BMC complementary and alternative medicine 13;130
prepare for the