Unfortunately, the mortality rate due to Covid-19 has increased drastically in the last few weeks because of lack of prevention strategies and an inadequate medical facilities and equipment. If the government does not take an immediate action and people don’t cooperate well many people will die, and the worst gets worse.
Social distancing, wearing on masks and proper handwashing play a vital role in the prevention of COVID-19. It seems that wearing a mask istabooand public gathering is common in Somalia and hard to control due to economic and social activities. For example, if a person dies for coronavirus, people gather in his/her house to pay their condolences to families and relatives of the deceased person and stay there for several days and follow the dead person coffin to the funeral area, and this means that they are welcoming coronavirus. Some people attend in this ceremony to get a bite (ZAB). In addition to this, there is not enough medical facilities and equipment and there is also lack of a well-trained staff member in the hospitals.
Unfortunately, the government of Somalia cannot and will not impose lockdown due to several reasons, as we know most of the Somali people wake up in the morning and go to work and earn some money to feed their families (Survival of the fittest), no work means no food, and others are busy in searching of daily work. Unfortunately, the government of Somalia cannot afford to provide social welfare to needy people at this stage.There is also corruption in Somalia, the handouts (Funds) from international communities assigned for fighting against coronavirus is diverted into individual pockets or used for other political/personal purposes.
My humble Advice or Suggestion
- Stop corruption and use the money allocated for Covid-19 properly
- Purchase medical facilities and equipment needed to fight against coronavirus
- Wearing mask should be mandatory
- Encourage social distance
- Provide handwashing facilities in public areas and workplaces
- Stop or avoid public gatherings like masjids, stadiums, funerals, and demonstrations, etc
- Minimise number of customers per entrance in malls, supermarkets, shops, restaurants, pharmacies, etc
- Provide proper training to staff members and volunteers in the hospitals
- Empower the people through mass media (Radios, TVs, newspapers etc) and brochures and onsite trainings and workshops
- Try to seek Covid-19 vaccine from international communities.
WA BILLAHI TAWFIQ
Prepared by Awes Amin
Melbourne, Australia
awesamin@gmail.com