WE urge our government to be ready to offer quality medical care in the quandary of the coronavirus. May hearsay not lead the nation as is the current state. What is the state of preparedness?
By Tendayi Westerhof Zimbabwe Women Living With HIV National Forum
We need to accelerate correct information dissemination to dispel fear that has engulfed many of us and as a nation. Right now if one is just suspected to have COVID-19, neighbours, workmates stigmatize one which prevents working together and offering help. Chinese nationals are now stigmatized. Is that the correct way to handle the pandemic. No to stigmatisation.
We can not continue to a have a false sense of claim to invulnerability to a disease which knows no borders.
Uncertainty is rife, with word of mouth, irresponsible social media peddling half truths and out right lies being the order of the day.
Coming to nurses and doctors who are at risk in their sector of work, may they be fully equipped to remove the uncertainty in handling cases without fear. Knowledge is power when equipped with an enabling environment.
Turning to our children in schools and youths in colleges, are not doing enough to prevent a possible spread? From my point of view, we not taking the required prevention seriously.
Basic water and soap is not readily available with lucky few students carrying these from home. Many, many schools have no running water, no required sanitation. If we battle to contain cholera outbreaks as a nation, I shudder to imagine the COVID-19 effects if we were to have confirmed incidents.
We urge our leaders be in our shoes for a moment.
Let them be proactive because reactionary moments are tragic, we have witnessed that as a nation with cholera and typhoid outbreaks.
Wisdom and long-term solutions, not political haggling will help Zimbabwe during this moment of panic, fear, despondency, uncertainty of suspected coronavirus cases.
Correct and continuous messaging from relevant authorities needs drumming up.
How can the message reach everyone even in hard to reach areas?
1. Spread the word in schools, children are a cog in the wheel in prevention of any pandemic outbreaks.
2. The radio, community radios too take note not everyone is on radio and television.
3. The church. For now let’s not hold unnecessary gatherings.
Signed: Tendayi Westerhof Chairperson Zimbabwe Women living with HIV National Forum (ZWLHNF)
