Better being safe than sorry
3 min read
By Margaret Kamba
Concerns have already started being raised about the new COVID-19 wave, omicron, with some suffering and recovering from it while others have had to bury their loved ones.
Those who have been suffering from the new variant confirm symptoms that have been talked about which are more of those suffered in the previous variants, making it almost difficult for the layman to know the difference. What we can only witness is that this one is perhaps fast-spreading with some fearing that perhaps the next one could be more vicious.
Whatever the case may be, it has proven to the vaccinated and survivors that had they not done so, it could be another story.
The politics surrounding this virus and pharmaceutical companies goes beyond doubt, that it is a money making venture that perhaps requires African countries to think outside the box especially with the innovative young minds our institutions of higher learning are producing.
It is pleasing to note that efforts to have the African medicines institute comes to fruition because herein lies homegrown solutions that speak immensely into our conditions.
It has come to pass that the first sting made us realise that we are capable of producing PPEs and the strength of our local traditional medicines among them zumbani tested. We must pat ourselves on the back but know and realise that more can be done given the resources. Talent should be nurtured and build our country.
Testing continues at various institutions with those testing positive going into isolation and some premises shutting down for fumigation. This must constantly be done in order to curb the spread of the virus which almost daily sees at least 4000 new infections recorded.
It is surprising that even in this forth wave of the virus, complacency is rife with improper wearing of masks and a lazy approach to sanitising which could be saving other people’s lives. No social distancing is seen in the bank queues as we queue to try and acquire the RBZ foreign currency which most of us can afford. Perhaps for us what is more important is getting that money which I believe cushions us a lot. If only these could be administered strategically and in unison with the prevailing conditions.
Those in the church I am sure are aware that this is a repeat of times gone by when it was foretold that people would die of deadly diseases and that many would not be able to bury their dead. Jeremiah 16, Isaiah 20, Exodus 30 and Leviticus 13 are clear on quarantine, isolation and masking up. They also talk about the need to lockdown until the “fury passes.”
One wonders what fury and whose? It is the same as that of the African Traditional Religion which clearly shows that when the gods have forsaken one, they suffer from a lot of misfortunes until they return and seek audience.
It must start somewhere to seek that audience whether or not it is with the church. The fury must pass and our land must be healed of this virus.
Playing your part may mean getting vaccinated, go ahead and do so. Whatever playing your part may mean, do so because you owe it to your country.
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