TalkingB

Tag: Health

  • The Sustainability of The Nigeria Lockdown.

    The Sustainability of The Nigeria Lockdown.

    Nigeria like many other African countries always like to take a cue from their European counterparts forgetting about the practicability of the model employed.

    The Chinese government, on the one hand, deployed the lockdown method to curb the spread of COVID-19 although draconian in the implementation which yielded the desired result. The Europeans, on the other hand, assessed their environment and culture and came up with the concept of social distancing as that’s the most suitable in an European western configuration.

    The government envisaged and identified the negative social-economic, and financial impact of the stay at home order and then rolled out palliatives in form of financial relief to cushion the effect of the financial strain on an average family during this precarious and perilous times. The government understands that mental health could deteriorate and begin to sink into mediocrity as human beings are considered social animals, they set up phone lines where people can reach out should the need arises to speak with a psychologist.

    When I heard Nigeria adopted this formula I quickly embarked on some irresponsible rhetorics regarding the workability then I re-evaluated the scenario and concluded that we’re headed in the wrong trajectory.

    Firstly, the vast majority of the populace live in extreme poverty thereby making an average housing look like a luxury. This vast demography settle in a nucleated, congested, and unhealthy environment where social distancing measures is seemingly impracticable.

    Secondly, a large chunk of the population live hand to mouth meaning they can only feed if they work on a daily basis. The lack of database which has been the major drawback of our economic development has made it impossible to roll out financial relief adequately. Trouble and anarchy looms as people have started flouting the lockdown order, these individuals do not have a choice as they’ve been left with their faith, the basic needs like electricity, social security, employment opportunities, infrastructures, etc are absent and in some cases non-existent.

    I do not understand a government that would implement a lockdown and not have a robust plan for the most susceptible individuals like a Door- to – Door feeding strategy and the provision of basic amenities. Sadly, in a nation like Nigeria, a copy and paste strategy like the case of their European counterparts cannot work as the financial and economic impact is more likely to kill than the virus itself. It’s about time they went back to the drawing board.

    By Akintayo J. Akingbade

    Email : Akintayoakingbade@gmail.com

  • The invisible hand

    The invisible hand

    The universe is full of wonders, some are obvious at sight, some are conceived in our minds, some as a result of unresolved puzzle of mysteries, some by eventualities of dreadful events. The wisdom and knowledge of our sages and scholars are sometimes embarrassed which makes it more traumatizing for people with faith to wonder why some would come to conclusion that, ” arguably, there’s God ”.

    But alas! Humans have the freedom and right to choose whatever he believes in. There is scientific explanation for almost every occurrence that is there to think about; like what keeps the oceans at its banks, what orchestrated the various landscape we have, the funny slopes of some mountains, the lightning, the thunder, the rain, the sun, the stars, the absence of some of them sometimes, and what regulate them.

    The debate of God’s existence or not is a typical one that may not be won on either side. Nevertheless, there’s one essential factor we all trivialize despite knowing its importance and ability to change the mentality of any mortal being when its wall collapsed our health. It’s never a big deal when intact, a man can vow, vouch, threaten, prove, demonstrate and convince several thousand even millions to think from his perspective to accept a policy, a doctrine, a religion, a thesis or even a judgment. But the moment his health fails, nothing else in the entire world matters much to him anymore, as they are secondary to his real need. 

    At some point, a sick person irrespective of his belief in God, questions the supposed Supreme being, questions the universe, questions their own subconscious being, seek spiritual aid and hopes for a miracle. The expertise of the doctors means nothing to the patients at those points… Their wealth, achievements and past glory hold no water. Even the poorest of all men who had lived a life full of hardship would still hope for this miracle and hang on to life. But does that make health the so-called God? Oh NO! What about the miracle in quote? 

    Why are humans always submissive at the loss of their health? Why do they shift grounds at those moments? Why do they tend to give room for more love and affection with their family members and friends at those critical moments? Of all questions, that is valid, ” Is there God ” should never have been one of those but if you ask me if God is an entity, I wouldn’t have an answer to give you because, in every single thing around you, there’s always one thing beyond your explanation, understanding or description. 

    LOVE OTHERS WHEN YOU STILL CAN.