COVID-19: ‘Uncontrolled reopening of economy will increase rate of transmission’

Transforming, Uplifting and Reforming Nigeria (TURN), a diaspora non-governmental organisation (NGO), says an uncontrolled reopening of the economy will accelerate the transmission of COVID-19 overwhelming Nigeria’s fragile healthcare system.

In a statement on Sunday in Ottawa, Canada, signed by AG Ahmed, the president, and Nelson Irobi, vice-president administration, the NGO said Nigeria needs an effective strategy to reopen the economy in order to avoid massive transmission of COVID-19 across the country.

The group asked the federal government to design a pandemic plan that would sensitise the public in local languages.

“TURN believes that effective re-opening of the economy should follow advise from health professionals tested and trusted to foster effective mitigation, reduction and isolation and treatment options,” the NGO said.

“An uncontrolled re-opening will result in the acceleration of the rate of transmission that could overwhelm the already vulnerable and fragile health care system in Nigeria. This could result in the loss of many more lives.

“TURN believes it is time to revisit the national response to the global pandemic in Nigeria. It also believes that this would need an effective national response strategy that fully integrates local, state and federal agencies and actors in the health care delivery sector at all levels, but more especially with the active help of mental health professionals (psychiatrists, psychologist, social workers).

“Government should involve the leadership of the Nigerian Medical Association and other health stakeholders in designing a pandemic plan that would involve public sensitization and education on COVID-19 that is synthesized into languages understandable by the people.

“Vaccine procurement and treatment should be embarked upon on a model that debunks the many conspiracy theories mushrooming on social and some form of mainstream media.

“A reopening of the Nigerian economy should be measured and phased in. A planned regional reopening is more desirable in line with global best practices.”