By Kennedy Onyenma
The novel Corona Virus, also known as COVID-19, took the world by surprise. First from Wuhan in China. Then, like wild fire, it spreads across the globe. All efforts to either find a cure or contain the spread of this deadly pandemic have proved gruelling. Howbeit, COVID- 19 pandemic have enabled the world and Nigerians to identify some outstanding qualities in their leaders.
Unarguably,some of the Governor’s in Nigeria have been defiant and gallantry in thier approach to the management of the pandemic. Please permit me to mention but one, Governor Okezie Victor Ikpeazu.
For reasons of modesty I will allow posterity to,in due course, situate prominently the scorecard arising “heretofore.”
Nonetheless the fair and objective minded will concede that in Governor Ikpeazu’s Covid -19 management approach we have seen a scientific, proactive and articulate response to most contingencies arising from the seemingly invincible Covid-19 Virus.
For instance, it was as if the Governor had a premonition of the pandemic when, some 3 years ago, he launched the highly innovative, but resourceful, Abia Tele-health scheme.
As a novel health care initiative that engenders social health care, Abia Tele-health is structured to provide a real time, coordinated, clinical healthcare support to individuals and institutions, alike, through discounted telephone dial connect, powered by Globacom .
Tele-health is managed by dedicated medical Doctors from a call centre. It runs in the form of an out- patient clinic where a telephone dial connects the sick to any doctor, on duty, who in turn listens to the complaints and thereafter advice on the way forward.
At the emergence of the covid-19 pandemic the Tele-health care facility became the stop gap! A first hand, interim, succour to mitigate the bizarre effects of the pandemic while lasting preventive measures were articulated.
Apart from the Tele-health initiative, other measures were later actuated, in quick succession, to combat the Corona Virus pandemic (Covid-19).
An example of such measure was the constitution of the COVID-19 Inter- Ministerial Committee chaired by the Secretary to the State Government. The committee interfaced with the people and the Government.
Other committees, like the Enforcement and the Palliative Committees, functioned simultaneously. Each committee was eminently chaired by men of character who equally have proven passion for service.
Perhaps the most innovative ,of all that the Governor did ,was leading the advocacy for an alternative and affordable ,yet acceptable,locally made Nose masks. As obscured as the arguement for the Nose mask first sounded the Governor did not relent. Professor Ben Ayade, his colleague Governor and a Researcher, cum cerebral Scientist, later gave vent to the advocacy.
A little persuation and prove of the efficacy of the alternative Nose Mask was what was needed for, NAFDAC, NCDC and Ministry of Health to give their nod.
Behold the emergence of the locally made nose mask that has not only aesthetically adorned the faces of Nigerians and Africans but have also become the most remarkable life saving palliative ever advanced in the history of the management of any pandemic! Don’t forget. Ikpeazu did it. You can beat it if you can!
Were it not for the exceptional sense of ingenuity and an unsusual piece of creativity which manifestly exude humaneness and conscientiousness, all the hulabaloo about compulsory wearing of nose mask and the attendant benefit therein would have been everything but a mirage.
The pro-poor, albeit laudable, advocacy obviously considerate of the very poor will linger in the mind of the people for a very long time. While it lingers, please, don’t forget the progenitors: Okezie Ikpeazu ( PhD) and Ben Ayade(Professor)!
In an unusual sense of Industry, the Abia State SME team led by Chief Sam Hart swung into action. They took swift advantage of the innovation. Today, thousands of locally made Nose Masks have been craftly designed and diligently sewn and circulated for the world to wear and live!
As usual Aba Tailors have gone beyond producing Nosemasks to producing other personal protective wears like, disposable Coveralls, in the form of China’s TYVEST, and other critical safety wears .
We have also seen some novel Palliative measures geared towards engendering development and sustainable growth. For example,when an obvious lacuna became inevitable , especially in the education sector, due to the lingering Lock down, another innovation came forth , this time, the “Abia Radio Classroom.” This learning platform is peculiar because of the massive and heterogeneous impact . All you need is a pair of battery and a transistor radio to get connected! Infact some of us that abhored Maths and some other Sciences those days now, surreptitiously, tune in to learn few vital things.
For the Primary and Secondary students,in Abia State, the “Abia Radio Classroom” program have been, everything effective: enriching and fulfilling! Let the Western World bask in their 21st century Communication tools, like Zoom and others,while we “manage the one we get” for now!
The highpoint was listening to a sitting Governor teach Biology with an uncanny sense of duty and proficiency.
While the Global and National figures of COVID -19 infected persons continue to rise, the media has been in their commendable best dispositions informing, educating ,entertaining and enlightening the masses on the imminent dangers of Covid 19 pandemic. The WHO prevention protocols are repeatedly sounded like the Cathchist, of old, would sound the early morning church bell.
No one,at this point will deny knowledge of the pandemic; the dreadful health and social consequences or it’s preventive measures . What is needed more is discipline and personal responsibility to ensure a tacit adherence to the rules and regulations outlined for the management of the pandemic. If we must abate further spread of the disease then obedience is key.
All efforts should be put in place to ensure that the Virus is curtailed through the already prescribed prevention framework without,as much as possible, dismantling the already stimulated economic framework.
The post Covid 19 redemptive plans should therefore be kept in view.Governor Ikpeazu seems to be mindful of that,hence, the proactive constitution of the Abia State COVID-19 Economic Advisory team headed by Professor Anya O. Anya.
The excitement about the committee is not just in the name but the spirit behind it.The calibre of technocrats, like Dr Mrs Okonjo Iweala, and other eminent personalities who make up the team makes the committee outstanding. Even the Public Affairs Pundits can’t agree any less.
With these unusual approach to the Covid 19 “war”, Governor Ikpeazu has won my heart!
Abia State,in my assessment, stands a chance of emerging out of the COVID -19 crises more energised than it was prior to now!
The lessons arising from the COVID -19 pandemic and the unusual management process evinces the fact that true leadership is neither swayed by adversity nor strained by the vicissitudes of life both circumstances, rather, constitute the catalyst for “good success.”