03/01/2021
A layman’s analysis on what’s going in Zimbabwe.
If you don’t read this to the end it will sound like a negative, pessimistic view on things in Zimbabwe.
Here I go
In a sad development of things in a country with already failing health service delivery, Zimbabwe’s hospitals are reported to be full to capacity. I don’t think we have seen the end of this yet, remember this is summer, where covid transmission should be low, what will happen in 5 months when winter strikes.
I don’t mean to sound negative, I mean to sound a warning.
Stage 1
Here is why we are where we are.
Zimbabwe had done relatively well in keeping the numbers low with borders closed. The government as a system slept on the wheel as people flocked in through borders without screening
The Zimbabwean culture did not help either, individual choices steeped in the ‘Christmas at home’ tradition flocked from neighbouring countries that have better health facilities but with not so good track record in curbing the transmission, bringing the dreaded bug into Zimbabwe.
Stage 2
Families and friend hugging each other and having ‘joy’ infected each other. As we speak there is a large number that is infected but not yet showing infection.
Stage 3(where we are now)
The first infected hosts flocked to hospitals infecting unsuspecting nurses and hospitals are full. In the next few days poeple will fall sick in their himes without treatment. Zimbabweans have culture of caring. Without protective measures more will be infected. Many will die.
Stage 4,
Many Zimbabweans in Zimbabwe will travel to go to pay their last respects as per tradition and many more will be infected. Many more will die.
What can be done.
1) if you are in urban centres, avoid going to the rural areas as this will increase infection on the rural folk who are relatively safe whose health service delivery is not at its worst.
2) if you can help don’t go to funerals. The money you would have used to travel send for help at the funeral as this still shows you care.
3) avoid public places if you can help it. Don’t just loiter around town. I know we depend on hustling. You know if we suffer for the next 2 months or so we can beat this bug.
4)If you have to go to work, please wear protective clothing. Where you don’t have hand sanitizers wash hands with soap as often as you can.
5) once you start suspecting infection, protect your loved ones from you. If it means staying in the bedroom and food being brought to you one way or the other, it’s better.
I mean to say Zimbabweans will not have to wait on their failing government nor will they have to wait on international aid. There are political implication here.(suffice it to say)
