Public health physician proposes strategies to flatten COVID-19 curve

Flatten

By Oluwafunke Ishola

Lagos, April 16, 2020 (NAN) The Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN) says the best approaches to flatten the curve of Covid-19 pandemic should be tailored to the peculiarities within Nigeria, since the virus is novel.

Its Lagos State Chapter Chairman, Dr Tolu Olufunlayo, said in a statement on Thursday in Lagos that direct country comparisons and total adoption of strategies from other countries might not be in Nigeria’s interest.

“The Covid-19 curve shows a gradual increase in confirmed cases rather than an exponential rise, and this may be explained by a largely asymptomatic pattern of the disease here in Nigeria, coupled with the effect of suboptimal testing.

“We acknowledge the challenges with testing as this is not only a local problem, but a global issue.

“While testing more people is important, community engagement and education is still the best tool to prevent the spread, because viruses are spread by the behaviour of the people,” Olufunlayo said.

According to him, as Lagos embarks on a further 14-day lockdown, government must bear in mind the consequences that were likely to ensue within the state, if it does not support the lockdown with appropriate palliatives.

“Already, the economic implications are biting hard on individuals and families, and recently, there has been an increase in unrest and insecurity, needing urgent attention.

“The association commends the efforts of the state governor in setting up the Incident Command system, even before the occurrence of the first case,” he said.

Olufunlayo said that the association proposed a gradual reversal of the lockdown and urgent review of the distribution of palliative measures.

“Given our observations of the pattern and spread of COVID-19 in Lagos State, it is unlikely that we can attain the level of testing required to make the continued lockdown achieve optimal epidemiological benefit.

“The severity of disease in our clime is yet to transit to that seen in countries with older populations.

“There is rising insecurity due to the large numbers of people living on the fringes of society and reliant on now non-existent informal occupations for daily subsistence,” he said.

Olufunlayo noted that active case search could continue in a localised manner through the Local Government Area/Local Council Development Area mechanisms.

According to him, active and passive surveillance systems can be strengthened through training of ad hoc volunteers and sustained through retention of those trained.

Olufunlayo added that the use of scientific data should be employed to determine the epicentres of the disease within the state and tailor specific interventions to such areas.

He stressed the need for continuation and strengthening of the preventive measures– hand hygiene, cough etiquette, physical distancing, and use of home-made masks to reduce droplet contamination of hands and surfaces. (NAN)

AIO/GOK
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Edited by Olagoke Olatoye