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| Fumigation truck in a demonstration yesterday |
COVID-19, total Lockdown and the Fumigation of Plateau State: Matters Arising
By John A Amamma
April 11, 2020
The Executive
governor of Plateau State, Rt. Hon. Simon Bako Lalong Esq. yesterday flagged
off the fumigation exercise that necessitated the total lockdown of the state
as a measure towards the fight against the novel Coranavirus, code named “COVID-19”,
a disease that has raved the world. The exercise
is expected to be done throughout the 17 Local Government Areas within seven
day.
Fumigation is a scientific exercise that
requires scientific expertise and some level of professionalism with particular
interest on the active/key actors and officials practically involved in the
exercise. Expertise and professionalism is essential because the process
involves the identification, handling, mixture and application of concentrated
chemicals and complex gadgets/apparatus used for the exercise.
It is
logical that human safety health related fumigation exercise as in the instant
case on the Plateau, key indicators and elements must be critically examined
and analyzed by experts/professionals in the said area, most especially when it
directly involves the safety and protection of lives. Thus, it is ideal that
adequate measures are taking towards attaining close to perfect level/standard readiness
for a successful exercise.
Instances
and occasions calls for urgent need and engagement of additional man power to
enable government at all levels satisfactorily equate and balance the needed
man power to cover and make up for effective service delivery of credibility
laced with justice and fairness in an exercise such as COVID-19.
In most cases,
additional man power engaged for the exercise are labeled 'Adhoc-Staff', they
(Adhoc-Staff) are expected to be subjected to a strenuous exercise which involves
screening, testing and training so as to upgrade their level of expertise/professionalism
in the intended area of service to enable them properly fit-in to avoid
quackery. From the narratives, it is fundamental that fumigation exercise
requires some level of expertise and professionalism so as to get the best and
quality of resultant effect from the exercise.
COVID-19 pandemic remains a threat to the
human race globally. This is evident on the alarming casualty figures recorded
around the world with Asia, Europe and America the worst hit. The initial suspension
of human activities for about two weeks period and the subsequent total
lockdown of the entire state are deliberate and conscious efforts of the
Government of Plateau state as same geared and invoked from the spirit and
words of the ground-norm laced with the social contract deposition expected to
remain ever green in conscious minds and engraved in the heart of the deponent
(His Excellency, Governor Lalong) as contained in the oath of office therein.
However,
reservations and mixed feelings are conceived in the minds of pundits on the
Plateau flowing from the anticipated harsh conditions ushered in by the
unfamiliar foe disguised in total lockdown regalia to create convenience for
the fumigation exercise flagged yesterday.
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| Gov. alighting from fumigation machine after demonstration yesterday |
According to
a research (reference and citation withheld) on the Plateau, about 70% of Plateau citizens feed themselves
and families from daily hustles best described as daily pay, by implication 70%
of plateau citizens afford food on a daily basis from the proceeds of the
previous day labour and in some cases feed on proceeds of the very same day.
Worthy of note from the research is that 60% of the siad 70% are youths. Thus,
the resultant effect of a total lockdown on the plateau, crowning an already
existing closure and suspension of major markets and areas tagged as flash
point and risk areas which before the total lockdown had negatively affected
and drastically slowed activities and businesses around the state, the total lockdown
is said to have further complicated matters and worsen situation and condition
of the 60% youthful population on the plateau.
The scary
anticipated hardship confronting the plateau youths on the face in few days to
come naturally and in logical terms provokes rational minds to ponder on the following
question:
Is the total lockdown well timed considering the fact that the decision followed
an initially suspension of human activities on major areas, markets and streets
for about two weeks?
Does the plateau state government understand
its peculiarities and unique challenges in regard the fight against the
COVID-19 pandemic?
Does the plateau state government lay out chronologically
in sequential arrangement to identify and critically analyze intending state
policy before implementation or rather adopt and implement just any national or
sister state policy?
Fumigation exercise like the instant case on
the plateau is basically geared towards the protection of human lives; a
scientific exercise like every other is accompanied by hazards and risk. It has
been scientifically proven that among some of the hazards and risk of
fumigation area:
The hazard
of air pollution;
The hazard
of contaminated water and food;
The hazard
of exposure to raw form of concentrated chemicals by officials on the field
which may be infectious or contagious;
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| Fumigation personnel during the official flag off yesterday at Terminus round about, Jos North LGA |
Give and
take, the exercise and process of fumigation is one that requires expertise and
professionalism in line with protocol for Fumigation so as to avert any form of
negative effects on the people the exercise is intended to protect. Thus, the
complexity of the exercise raises the following questions:
What is the
level of preparedness guaranteeing a successful fumigation exercise on the
plateau?
Has air
sampling analysis of affected areas carried out to ascertain viral load and
duration in terms of time series analysis of the viral life span?
What is the estimated number of experts/professionals
and gadgets required on the plateau for the exercise to avoid flooding the
streets with officers and men of various security agencies who have little or
no idea on the exercise as against the key actors and players required on the
field to ensure a successful exercise?
If their is a need to engage the services of
Adhoc-Staff in the process as always the
case of a developing economy, have they actually been engaged, screened and
trained respectively in that regard, knowing that the process is scientific and
requires expertise and professionalism?
It is very
important to always take into cognizance the above considering the danger of
fumigating public places as it poses health danger to inhabitants because of
generation of aerosols that are carcinogenic.
Finally, would the Plateau state government
and the 17 local government make public a detailed report of the financial
implication involved in prosecuting the fight against the COVID-19?
#Plateau
shall remain safe, sound waxing stronger in the face and over the COVID-19
pandemic if we all play our parts as stakeholders in the #safe plateau project.
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