Is the deadly Coronavirus in Kenya? If it lands in Kenya, will we ever know? What if it is already here?
The deadly Coronavirus has now been confirmed in 52 countries and it is still spreading like bushfire. The death toll is approaching 3,000 and the number of infections is approaching 90,000.
In Kenya, it is obvious that we are not prepared. When a Chinese patient is brought into a hospital and doctors literally break into a run for their dear life, like what happened in Athi River, and we make jokes and laugh about it, it shows are not prepared but courting death itself.
If Coronavirus struck (it will eventually), here are some of the questions we should ask:
Is the health sector ready to handle a mass outbreak? How many beds to we have? 11? How many experts do we have? Do we have a functional lab?
Do we have a well-established reporting system in case of a Coronavirus case? Do we have a hotline that Kenyans can call to report? What steps should one take?
If people were to stay indoor, do they have enough food? Do they have enough water? Do they have enough cash to last them week/months? Or are they likely to die of hunger?
Do we have face masks? Have they been ordered? Have people been shown how to use them? Do even people know the symptoms of this deadly virus?
Have we put measures in place to stop/prevent Coronavirus from landing in Kenya? What is the progress so far?
We should watch China and learn. China is a first world country, yet it has lost more than 2,000 people with over 70,000 infected. If a first world country is struggling to contain this menace, what will a poor third world country like Kenya do?
What should we do? Sit and wait for death?