2nd Wave of COVID-19: HEWAN calls on FG to ensure public safety

As the world confronts the second wave and the new variant of COVID-19 Pandemic, the Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN), has called on the Federal Government to urgently put measures in place to ensure public safety.

HEWAN made the call today in a statement jointly signed by its President and Secretary, Chioma Obinna and Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu, respectively and made available to Journalists.

According to the statement, “HEWAN observed with great concern the resurgence of what experts say is the  emergence of a new variant of the pandemic coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2)  in some  countries and a need for Nigerian health authorities to put measures not to allow it I to the country.

“As at today, the new variant is reportedly spreading rapidly in Britain and the World Health Organusation has confirmed nine instances of the same variant in Denmark, Australia, Italy and the Netherlands.

“Several other countries including South Africa have also confirmed the emergence of  variants similar to the one now ravaging Britain.

“Scientists say the new variant is 70 per cent  more transmissible than the previously dominant strain though there’s no evidence yet that it could be more fatal. There’s however, fear that it will spread swiftly to other countries.”

While HEWAN is calling on the Federal Government to, as a matter of urgency, place a ban on flights from Britain and other countries currently experiencing the spread of the new COVID-19 variant as a measure to keep the new variant away from Nigeria, it is also appealing that funds are dedicated for research institutes such as the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) and others ,that can develop a homegrown vaccine that can tackle it.

The statement recalls that on December.17,  Mr  Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 had announced that Nigeria has entered a second wave of coronavirus infections.

HEWAN noted in the statement that the  number of COVID-19 cases detected in the country in the past two weeks indicates that a second wave of the outbreak has begun.

HEAWAN is worried that the number of infected cases is higher, explaining that “on Dec.17, the country registered its latest highest daily figure of 1,145, a record likely to be broken soon going by the way the virus is spreading. Until the resurgence of the infections in December, Nigeria never had a higher number of daily infections than the 745 reported ‪on June 19,” the statement added.‬

HEAWAN called on the Federal Government to join other countries around the world that have reacted swiftly to prevent or curtail the spread of the new variant, noting that as at today (Wednesday December 23) over 40 countries have banned flights from Britain while neighbouring France has temporarily shut its borders.

HEAWAN, the statement stated, expressed regret that health authorities in Nigeria have remained silent and yet to respond to the new development even when the nation is already experiencing an influx of travelers in this festive period from different countries including those now being ravaged by the new strain of COVID-19.

HEAWAN in the statement expressed strong belief that the country has the capacity for the development of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus, calling on the country to acts fast as the world confronts another wave of the pandemic.

The Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) is an umbrella body of all health/science reporters and editors (TV, RADIO, PRINT and ONLINE), in Nigeria, registered first as members of The Nigeria Union of Journalists( NUJ).