African Youths releases statement on COVID-19, outline the way forward

A PRESS RELEASE BY INSPIRE AFRICA YOUTHS ON THE 4th OF APRIL, 2020 ON THE OUTBREAK OF A NOVEL CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC IN AFRICA

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Inspire Africa Youths as a network of change agents across the continent, reached a consensus on managing the pandemic outbreak in Africa; we therefore, came out with the following resolve to make our stand known to all our African leaders. 

1. A novel coronavirus outbreak was first documented in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China in December 2019. 

2. As at the time of filing this report, it has now been confirmed on six continents and in more than 100 countries. 

3. However, as the world’s health system funnel resources into learning about, treating, and preventing infections in humans, new information is been released daily. 

4. In this two-part article series, we will first provide some history on the novel coronavirus pandemic  outbreak in perspective, and discuss global health security and planning for pandemic response.

5. Secondly, we will offer guidance from the best trusted sources for prevention and planning in the workplace and at home. 

6. Common signs of COVID-19 infection are similar to the common cold which include respiratory symptoms such as dry cough, fever, shortness of breath, and breathing difficulties. 

7. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure, and death. 

8. COVID-19 infection is spread from one person to another via droplets of cough or sneeze from an infected person.

9. According to current data, time from exposure to onset of symptoms is usually between 2 and 14 days, with an average of five days.

10. For how long are we going to suffer from what we don't even know how it originated?

11. African leaders are not taking responsibilities; lacking swift response and poor crisis management abilities.

12. They waited for the deadly disease to spread across the continent before they took some measures of containing the pandemic outbreak. 

13. Early warning, early response mechanism should have been adopted to avoid the present state of the spread in Africa.

14. Time has come for every African leader to take drastic measures towards the dreaded coronavirus pandemic and every other toxicity ravaging our continent. 

15. 'African leaders' usually depend on aid from the developed/Western countries for the least mundane things; even at our own detriment.

16. We thereby call on our leaders to be proactive in taking necessary measures not minding political differences and religious sentiments; it's a time for everyone to stand up and fight together. 

17. Most of the elite class can afford sophisticated health care facilities but the poor cannot; and the poor makes the majority of the population.

18. Let every country set aside emergency fund with stringent measures; and also capital punishment to those who divert such funds for personal use. 

19. We are tired of seeing our people die every day, not just from the pandemic, but from every other illnesses due to poor health care delivery.

20. This is not about corona virus but other thematics. Foreign aids have always been our expectation. Its time African problems be solved by Africans. 

21. As Africans, we value and love our lives and we are ready to protect it. Our leaders shouldn’t be our problem, but our ladder to a successful destination.

22. How many of our health facilities across the continent are equipped to cater for those affected by COVID-19?

23. How many of our countries have enough health personnels? How many of our countries are paying salaries of health workers regularly with their titled allowances?

24. This is caused by greed and covetousness. 

25. Most of our leaders are facing one corruption case or the other. 

26. Extravagant spending has been their life style. Looting of our treasury has been a 'purposed career'; and we say no to all of these negative trends.

27. COVID-19 should be handled and contained without any aid from any continent; it's time we rise up and take responsibility.

28. China has been helping the world by sending relief materials that can not be used for her own people. 

Some of those relief materials are below the standard (inferior), but they are pretty informed that African countries does not even have the gadgets to decipher. 

29. South Africa has the highest number of cases, but they didn't deem it fit to send their aid to south Africa; because they have the needed apparatus and technology to detect 'under-quality'.

30. As youths in Africa, that desire the progress, growth and development of our dear continent,  we therefore, call on our government to act on the following areas:

31. Every African leader should develop a local  means of fighting the deadly virus.

32. Ensure that all aid coming into the borders of Africa should meet up with international standards. 

33. We should ensure, we share messages of hope and not just about the cases discovered, but also patients’ data of recovery.

34. Ensure all media houses work with the government and non-governmental organizations /civil society organizations to reduce the spread of the virus with adequate sensitization from the CSOs.

35. All countries in Africa should maintain quality hygiene even after overcoming the deadly virus.

36. All products and persons coming from China and infected countries should undergo rigorous screening at our airports and other  borders before allowed access into any African country.

37. Health Insurance Scheme should be properly looked into, to attain best universal health practices.

God bless Africa!

Africa shall be great Again!

#AriseAfrica

*Signed by*

1. Joshua Nicholas

Convener, Inspire Africa Conference

Nigeria.

2. Mambi Erica Fon

Youth Unleash and Empowerment (YUE)

Cameroon.

3. Kalejaiye Olasunkanmi

Global Promoters for Community Initiatives

Nigeria.

4. Mathias Wisdom 

Impact Initiative 

Nigeria.

5. Ashley T. Ncube

Achieve it Africa Org.

Zimbabwe.

6. Boluwatife Olasunkanmi

Achieve it Africa Org.

Nigeria.

7. James B. Farmah

Sierra Leone.

8. Adeogun Ahmed Adeleke 

Youth Liason Motivity 

Nigeria.

9. Desmond Chisom 

Cameroon.

10. Ajike Obinna Ajike

Social Action 

Nigeria.

11. Barr. Charles Nnalue

Nigeria.

12. Blessed Nhodza

Africa Rise Foundation

Zimbabwe.

13. Marimbe Sibantubanye

Paradise Integrated Youth Club 

Zimbabwe.

14. Olusanya Babatunde Nathaniel 

Nigeria.

15. Lawal Abolarinwa Abeeb

Nigeria.

16. Damilare Olusola 

Nigeria.

17. Bilal Abdulrahmon

Nigeria.

18. Najib Isah

Nigeria.

19. Bridget Pomaa Agyei

Ghana.

20. Brenda Wanjiru

CEPASD Africa

Center for Advocacy and Sustainable Development

Kenya

21. Emmanuel Eyo

Administrator, Inspire Africa