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The Health Writers’ Association of Nigeria (HEWAN) has called on the Federal Government on the urgent needs to ensure public safety as the country experience second wave of the COVID19 pandemic.
The association also calls 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.
Making this known in a statement jointly signed by the President, Chioma Obinna and Secretary, Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu, on Wednesday in Lagos, the association urges the government not to wait until the virus gets to our shores but quickly take necessary steps to keep the variant away from Nigeria.
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, 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.
According to Chioma Obinna, president of HEWAN, as at today, the new variant is reportedly spreading rapidly in Britain and the World Health Organisation 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 percent 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.
“Expectedly, countries around the world have reacted swiftly to prevent or curtail the spread of the new variant. As at today, over 40 countries have banned flights from Britain while neighbouring France has temporarily shut its borders,” she said.
However, health authorities in Nigeria have remained silent and yet to respond to the new development. Unfortunately, the nation is already experiencing an influx of travellers, as expected in this festive period, from different countries including those now being ravaged by the new strain of COVID-19.
“It is, therefore, imperative that the country acts fast as the world confronts another wave of the pandemic,” said Lucy Osuizigbo-Okechukwu, Secretary HEWAN.
Osuizigbo-Okechukwu added that as the whole world is racing for the production of a vaccine for the cure of the deadly coronavirus pandemic, we urge the federal government to ensure 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.
“We strongly believe we have the capacity for the development of a vaccine for the novel coronavirus. A stitch in time saves nine!,” she said.
