“SARS-COV-2” or “COVID-19”, is probably the most significant global event in the last 100 years and has caused a monumental disruption to the international order in every sphere of endeavour. The containment measures that have been applied by most countries include, lockdown of whole states and cities, banning or restricting of all forms of public gatherings, unprecedented “work from home” quarantine measures. Despite these measures, over 2.76 Million people globally have been infected by the virus and over 100,000 people have died since its onset in late 2019. COVD-19 was declared a worldwide pandemic by the World Health Organization (“WHO”) on March 11th 2020 and is increasingly becoming an existential threat to the entire human race.
In Nigeria, despite the fact that there are only 981 confirmed cases of the virus (with 31 deaths and 197 people treated and discharged), the infrastructural/personnel deficit in the country’s health sector coupled with its weak economy and strong cultural beliefs, present elements that can create a perfect storm in Africa’s most populous nation. There is therefore a very urgent need for robust and effective response to the pandemic and for strategic planning that can alter its trajectory.
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