1. Home
  2. Vol 24, No 2 (2020)
  3. Omaka-Amari

Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic in Nigeria: Preventive and Control Challenges within the First Two Months of Outbreak

Lois N Omaka-Amari(1), Christian O Aleke(2), Nkiru E Obande-Ogbuinya(3), Patricia C Ngwakwe(4), Onyechi Nwankwo(5), Eunice N Afoke(6),


(1) Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State,
(2) Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
(3) Science Education, Faculty of Education, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu Alike, Ebonyi State Nigeria
(4) Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
(5) African Institutes for Health Policy and Health Systems, Ebonyi State University, Nigeria
(6) Department of Human Kinetics and Health Education, Ebonyi State University, PMB 053 Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
Corresponding Author

Abstract


The spread of the novel Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has continued to rise in Nigeria despite all scientifically proven preventive measures. Factors militating against preventive and control efforts are yet to be addressed thus the study examined COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria within the first two months of outbreak and its preventive and control challenges. Data from the daily updates of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) were graphically used to describe the trend of spread while facts from both verified online and print media reports on COVID-19 were used to assess the challenges. Outcome of the study showed a steady increase in COVID-19 from one case on the 27thof February 2020 to 1,932 confirmed cases, 58 fatalities, and 319 discharged cases by 30th April 2020. COVID-19 preventive measures in the country include hand washing, use of sanitizers, wearing of face masks, lockdown and social distancing. Factors which undermined government preventive efforts were poor compliance attitude, selective lockdown, social media interference, misconceptions and myths, stigmatization, fear, inadequate health facilities, and distrust for government. It is recommended among others that there is need to ameliorate the adverse effects of COVID-19 misconceptions and myths through evidence-based campaigns using all sources of information. (Afr J Reprod Health 2020 (Special Edition); 24[2]:87-97)

References


WHO. Coronavirus. 2020. Retrieved 7th May2020 from

https://www.who.int/health topics/coronavirus#tab=tab_1

Mayo Clinic. Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Patient Care& Health Information, Diseases & Conditions. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER).2020.

World Vision. What is the coronavirus? Facts, symptoms,

and how to help. 2020.Accessed on 6th May 2020fromfile:///C:/Users/NNENNA/Desktop/covid/What%20is%20the%20coronavirusFacts,%20symptoms,%20and%20how%20to%20help%20_%20World%20Vision.html

Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). What

you should know about COVID-19 to protect yourself and others. Retrieved from 2019-ncov-factsheet (2) on 15 April 2020.

European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control.

Situation update worldwide. Retrieved 30th April 2020 from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/geographical-distribution-2019 ncov-cases

Nigeria Center for Disease Control.An update of COVID-

outbreaks in Nigeria. NCDC 2020https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/sitreps/?cat=14&name=An%20update%20of%20COVID19%20outbreak%20in%20Nigeria

The New Humanitarian.Corona virus and Aid: what we

are watching.2020. Retrieved 6/5/2020 from https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/news/2020/04/30/coronavirus-humanitarian-aid-response

WorldoMeter. Countries where covid-19 has spread. 30

April 2020. Available on https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/countries-where-coronavirus-has-spread/

Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. COVID-19 outbreak

in Nigeria. Situation Report. March 9, 2020. Also available on

https://ncdc.gov.ng/diseases/sitreps/COVID-19%20outbreak%20in%20Nigeria

Ojoma A. Nigeria: 'covid-19 - lockdown without food can

compromise citizens' health.1st April 2020.Also Available on https://allafrica.com/stories/202004010500.html

Omeiza A. Nigeria: covid-19 – government bans

travellers from 13 Countries, suspends issuance of visas. Vanguard 18th March 2020. Accessedhttps://allafrica.com

/stories/202003180709.html

Ishola M. Covid-19 pandemic battle can only be won

bypreventing importation.14 April 2020. https://tribuneonlineng.com/covid-19-pandemic-battle-can-only-be- won- by-preventing-importation %E2%80%95-gombe-gov/

Rukayat A. Bauchi Government laments skeptical attitude

towards covid-19. 26 April 2020. Retrieved 27/4/2020 from http://nigeriannewsdirect.com/bauchi-government-laments-skeptical-attitude- towards-covid-19/

Oyoyo J. Covid-19: Kaduna government imposes curfew

over non -compliance. 30 April 2020Rtrieved from https://www.independent.ng/covid-19-kaduna-government-imposes-curfew-over-non-compliance/

BBC News. Coronavirus: Nigerian actress

FunkeAkindele fined over Lagos party amid lockdown. 6 April 2020. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-52174832

Sahara Reporters. Journalists covering Aso Villa who

attended AbbaKyari’s burial told to self-isolate. 19th April 2020. Retrieved fromhttp://saharareporters.com/2020/04/19/journalists-covering-aso-villa- who-attended-abba-kyari%E2%80%99s-burial-told-self-isolate

EhanireEO. Update on Covid-19 in Nigeria.Nigeria

Centre for Disease Control. Protecting the Health of Nigeria. 2020.

AdejokeA. How covid-19 lockdowns affect healthcare of

non-covid cases, April 14, 2020. Accessed onhttps://africanarguments.org/2020/04/14/how-covid-19-lockdowns-affect healthcare-of-non-covid-cases/

The Conversation. The biggest threats to Nigeria

managing COVID-19: Panic, politicsand indecision. 26 March 2020. Retrieved fromfile:///C:/Users/NNENNA/Desktop/covid/The%20biggest%20threats%20to%20Nigeria%20managing%20COVID-19_%20panic,%20politics%20and%20indecision.html

GregN. Fake News in the Age of COVID-19.

Retrievedfromhttps://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/fake-news-in-the-age-of-covid-19

BBC News. Coronavirus: Why some Nigerians are

gloating about covid-19.22 April 2020. Accessed on https://www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-africa-52372737

Global Voices. Nigerian pastor spreads covid 19

conspiracies and disinformation. April 8, 2020 https://globalvoices.org/2020/05/15/nigerian-pastor-spreads-covid-19-conspiracies-and-disinformation/

Okere ET. Coronavirus is not from God. The Nation. March

, 2020 https://thenationonlineng.net/coronavirus-is-not-from-god/

Punch. No God is punishing us with COVID 19. April

2020 https://punchng.com/no-god-is-punishing- us-with-covid-19/

The Consversation. Pentecostals and the spiritual war

against coronavirus in Africa. 2020. https://theconversation.com/pentecostals-and-the-spiritual-war-against-coronavirus-in-africa-137424

Samson T. Buhari's minister says coronavirus is

punishment from God. 2020. https://www.pulse.ng/news/local/coronavirus-keyamo-says-disease-is-punishment-from- god/yxl4487

Olapegba PO, Ayandele O, Kolawole SO, Oguntayo R,

Gandi JC, Dangiwa AL, Ottu IF, and Iorfa SK. Knowledge and perceptions in Nigeria a preliminary assessment of novel coronavirus (covid-19). COVID-19 2020. Retrieved 15/4/2020 from file:///C:/Users/NNENNA/Downloads/knowledge%20of%20covid19%20april%2011.pdf

Aworinde T. Common myths, controversies,

misconceptions about coronavirus. 2020. Retrieved from https://punchng.com/common-myths-controversies-misconceptions-about-coronavirus/

Logan G. Social media’s role in the coronavirus

pandemic. 2020. Retrieved from https://www.business2community.com/social-media/social-medias-role-in-the-coronavirus pandemic-02296280

Lee C. The role of social capital in health communication

campaigns: the case of the national youth anti-drug media campaign. Communication Research, 2014; 41 (2): 208- 235. doi:10.1177/0093650212446332. ISSN 0093-6502

Peter S. COVID-19 misinformation remains difficult to

stop on social media. 2020. Retrieved from https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2020/04/17/covid-19-misinformation-remains-difficult-to-stop-on-social-media/#6cb661cd4819

Comcowich W. Infodemic’ of COVID-19 Fake news hits

social media. 2020. Retrievedfrom https://www.odwyerpr.com/story/public/14006/2020-03-25/infodemic-covid-19-fake-news-hits-social-media.html

Scientific American. Harnessing social media for the

covid 19 pandemic. 2020. Retrieved from htt://blogs,scientificamerican.com/observations/harnessing-media-for-covid19-pandemic/

Olujuwon I. Contextualizing covid-19 risk

communication and community engagement in sub-Saharan Africa for effective epidemic control: Fighting the “Infodemic. 2020. Retrieved from https://www.internationalhealthpolicies.org/blogs/contextualizing-covid-19-risk-communication-and-community-engagement-in-sub-saharan-africa-for-effective- epidemic-control-fighting-the-infodemic/

Adewale K. COVID-19 and social media.2020. Retrieved

from https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/03/covid-19-and-social-media/

George KH. Millions face hunger as African cities

impose corona virus lockdowns. Reuters. 2020. Retrieved from https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-hunger-africa/millions-face-hunger-as-african-cities-impose-coronavirus-lockdowns-idUSKCN21Y14E

John C. and Jack M. How Nigeria has responded to

covid-19 so far council foreign relation. 2020. Retrieved from https://www.cfr.org/blog/how-nigeria-has-responded-covid-19-so-far

Independent. Beyond covid-19 palliative politics:

Nigerians deserve better. 17 April 2020. Retrieved from https://www.independent.ng/beyond-covid-19-palliative-politics-nigerians-deserve-better/

Emerald Insight. COVID-19 complicates global

humanitarian aid response. 2020. Retrieved from https://www.emerald.com/insight/content/doi/10.1108/OXAN-DB251990/full/html

BBC News. Coronavirus: Why Nigeria's rice handouts

aren't going down well. 30 April 2020. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com/news/world-52488923

Njoku L, Ebiri K, Olumide S, Njadvara M, and Rotimi A.

Why controversy over FG’s COVID-19 palliatives persists. 26 April 2020. The Guardian. Retrieved 1/6/200 fromhttp://guardian.ng/news/why-controversy-over-fgs-covid-19-palliatives-persists/

Human Right Watch. Protect most vulnerable in covid-19

response. Nigeria. April 14, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/04/14/nigeria-protect-most-vulnerable-covid-19-response

Donelly E. Nigeria’s political leaders need to win trust to

tackle covid-19. 23 April 2020.https://www.chathamhouse.org/expert/comment/nigeria-s-political-leaders-need-win-trust-tackle-covid-19

Ejimabo NO. Understanding the Impact of Leadership in

Nigeria: Its Reality, Challenges, and Perspectives. The Author(s) 2013; 1-14, DOI: 10.1177/2158244013490704

Omoniyi TA. Covi-19: Tackling emerging scourge of stigma. April 5, 2020. https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/health-features/386090-covid-19-tackling-emerging scourge-of-stigma.html

Punch News. Coronavirus: Nigeria desperately looking

for test kits, says NCDC.27 April 2020.Retrieved from https://punchng.com/coronavirus-nigeria-desperately-looking-for-test-kits-says-ncdc/

Wole M, Johnbosco A, Omeiza A, Rotimi A and Shina A.

Nigeria: coronavirus positive man escapes from isolation centre2 April 2020.Retrieved from https://allafrica.com/stories/202004030504.html

Godsgift O. Stigmatization of covid-19 patients,

significantly affecting war against virus – FG. Apr 16, 2020. Retrieved from https://businessday.ng/coronavirus/article/stigmatization-of-covid-19-patients-significantly-affecting-war-against-virus-fg/

Adeoye A. Covid-19 grounds Nigeria’s medical tourists.

April 2020. Retrieved from https://mg.co.za/article/2020- 04-07-covid-19-grounds-nigerias-medical-tourists/

Nigeria Health Watch. Stronger together: how big

business is helping Nigeria combat #covid19. 2020.https://nigeriahealthwatch.com/stronger-together-how-big-business-is-helping-nigeria-combat-covid19/#.XrGu3KhKjIU

Sahara Reporters. COVID-19: Nigeria ranks low in tests

conducted despite donation of over 35,000 Kits, $500,000. April 18, 2020. Retrievedfrom http://saharareporters.com/2020/04/18/covid-19-nigeria- ranks-low-tests-conducted-despite donation-over-35000-kits-500000

Daniel F. Lack of covid-19 treatment and critical care

could be catastrophic for Africa. 3 April 2020. Retrieved from http://www.rfi.fr/en/africa/20200403-lack-of-covid-19-treatment-and-critical-care- could-be-catastrophic-for-africa.


Full Text: PDF

Article Metrics

Abstract View : 9371 times
PDF Download : 2092 times

Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.