The southern state of Kerala in India is being hailed in its fight against the spread of the novel coronavirus. Kerala, with a population of roughly 35.1 million people, a bustling tourist centre before the pandemic started, months later became the epicentre of the virus in India with a record of more than 400 cases and three deaths. However, in recent weeks, the number of cases has reduced to the state recording a single digit case unlike what is happening in Lagos, the epicentre of the virus in Nigeria, where the cases are on the rise.
Analysts say Kerala has managed to flatten the curve with aggressive testing, contact tracing as well as long period of quarantine, and catering for migrant workers. To start with the first, aggressive testing, the WHO Director General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, during a televised press conference, noted that test, test, test, is the only way to ascertain and control the virus. If inadequate testing is done, the danger lies in the fact that the virus is spreading rapidly. A report by the Worldometer puts Nigeria to have tested over 10,000 cases, when compared to its South African counterpart that has tested over 90,000 cases.
Kerala was able to reduce spreading by aggressive testing. Test should not only be done but done aggressively. One notable development was the use of mobile testing centres in Kerala. You don’t need to go to a testing centre far away from home when one is stationed at your bus stop and results are given there. The Nigerian government has to increase its testing capacity to fully ascertain the spread of this virus and control it. Even when mobile testing centres cannot be built, there could be buses that will convey people to where they will be tested.
The campaign, ‘Break the chain’, was used in Kerala to reduce the spread. In other words, if there is a positive case, trace contacts of the positive case, the second party and third party contacts, thereby breaking the chain of spread. The technology of Geotagging made it easy for them to follow up 10,000 people every day, monitoring their health status and symptoms. Something like that could be done in Nigeria.
Isolation centres set up by the government are a good idea but after the virus, what then happens? The state of Kerala engaged in a private public partnership with hotel managements for their facilities to be used as quarantine and isolation centres instead of building isolation centres.
The migrant workers from other states in India who make up the bulk of the working population, now referred to as guest workers, were given shelters, regularly fed, while games and nose masks etc. were made available to them. The state recognised that this set of workers would be stranded due to the lockdown and would have no means of transport, feeding, and shelter. The state took it upon itself to provide these necessities for the workers in this time of uncertainty and need.
Well, migrant workers may not be well-accounted for but they do make up part of the informal sector in a state like Lagos. Yet, no provision was made for them. This may lead up to a humanitarian crisis to which Nigeria is not prepared for as a nation neither are the states ready for.
Palliatives have been shared but may not go round or be very insufficient to last for the weeks ahead in the lockdown. Longer periods of quarantine are used in Nigeria, but it is hoped it’s being employed as the government directed.
The effort in reducing the spread of the virus in Kerala is a joint one among every stakeholder in the state: the state government, individuals. public corporations, the private sector. Nigeria can overcome this virus if we as a people play our part just as the government will. Kerala has shown that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Let’s walk this tunnel with renewed hope that we will win this war. Don’t forget to stay safe.
Kalejaiye Jesugbemileke
Mende, Maryland, Lagos
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