The African continent is no exception to the effects of the coronavirus disease. Since the first case in Africa, the cases have been rising rapidly. The latest stats show that the number of confirmed cases is 404796 and over 10000 fatalities. African leaders have been collaborating to come up with great tactics to combat the virus. The sad thing is that these measures have caused unrest in some citizens making others lose their lives.
Coronavirus disease in Burundi
Before Nkurunziza, the former president died of heart failure, he had imposed some measures to help combat the virus. However, Evariste Ndayishimiye, the current president, plans to re-assess the measures as he considers the virus as the biggest enemy of the country. The initial measures that the former president had imposed tended to create an environment of ignorance as people believed God had spared the country.
The World Health Organization set its eyes on Burundi after it conducted its general election in May. The political leaders conducted large parades of campaign ignoring the social distancing rule that WHO had imposed to curb the spread. After the World Health Organization condemned the action, Burundi sacked its WHO representative without any valid reason. Just like Equatorial Guinea, it fired its WHO representative over claims that the representative was recording false stats of coronavirus of the country.
The cases of coronavirus are over 100 and a single death. This low number of cases might be as a result of slow testing or under-reporting of coronavirus cases. Evariste spoke on Tuesday after his inauguration on concern about the state of coronavirus in the country.
“From Wednesday, I declare the COVID-19 pandemic the biggest enemy of Burundians, because it is clear it is becoming their biggest concern. We firmly commit ourselves to fight this pandemic.”
Testing and Measures in Burundi
During the same meeting, Evariste said that citizens should take charge of their lives and respect the health measures the health ministry will impose. He also told the Burundians that the tests and treatment were free so they should report anyone try to commercialize the activity. The President also gave a stern warning to those refusing to test for coronavirus intentionally.
“If in the future somebody does not go and get a test in such a case, it means he wants to contaminate others voluntarily. Authorities will consider him a sorcerer and treat him as severely as one would be.”
The biggest challenge that the country is facing in combating the virus is the lack of enough testing centers and scientists carrying out the tests.
However, Evariste promises the citizens that he will ensure there are enough testing centers and even launch testing campaigns to encourage more tests. The health ministry confirms that the change will be possible following the $5 million donations from the World Bank last month.
The Burundians need to take this virus seriously and change their ways. They should learn from the late president’s wife whom coronavirus infected, and she came to Nairobi for coronavirus treatment. Coronavirus is REAL and it KILLS!
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