Africa-Press – Namibia. NAMIBIA, LIKE the rest of the world, was left reeling in the face of the onslaught of three waves of the deadly coronavirus, with the impact of the third wave being the most devastating.
Not only did many Namibians succumb to the virus, but our economy, like economies worldwide, suffered immensely. Businesses were forced to shut down and many people lost their jobs, leaving them unable to feed their families. Education was interrupted and health facilities could barely cope under the weight of the pressure.
The onset of summer has been accompanied by a decrease in the spread of Covid-19. Fewer cases, more recoveries and fewer deaths have been reported lately. However, this should not fool us into thinking that this deadly virus has run its course.
We need only look at Europe. The World Health Organisation warned at the beginning of November that European countries are once again “at the epicentre” of the Covid pandemic, as cases soar across that continent.
In Namibia, we should take advantage of the lull in our country to prepare for a possible fourth wave, the possible consequences of which we can only imagine should we be affected. Of course, we hope that it does not materialise but we cannot afford to take any chances.
In the meantime, my hope is that our government has been working on putting in place a coherent strategy. CONSIDERATIONS I would suggest that they prioritise the ministries mostly affected by previous waves, namely the ministry of health and the ministry of education.
The health ministry could start with upgrading of health facilities, making available enough and conducive spaces and investing in sufficient and appropriate health equipment and supplies. The ministry of education should follow suit and work on ways to ensure that education can continue regardless of what might happen. The same applies to institutions of higher learning.
Equally important, I hope the government has taken note of the impact of protocols and restrictions on the livelihood of the masses, and the economy of the country in general. They need to consider the needs of everyone, especially those who depend on their businesses for a living.
Notwithstanding the importance of protocols and restrictions in curbing the spread of the virus, our people need to be able to make ends meet, while the economy needs to be able to grow. The government should therefore consider protocols which will not strangle the livelihoods of people. Alternatively, we probably need to consider ways of making sufficient funds available to cater for those whose businesses and hustles would be affected.
While the previous waves may have found Namibia unprepared and probably less informed, we have time to prepare for what could lie ahead. God forbid that we allow a possible fourth wave of Covid-19 to catch us off-guard.
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