Why govt. must go beyond medical, health management of COVID-19 pandemic- Experts

By Muhammad Muhammad. Despite the number of death recorded globally since the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, medical experts have advocated alternative measures to manage the impact in Nigeria.

Besides the experts canvassed for development of strategic framework essentially on post COVID-19 pandemic recovery that would alleviate the devastated pains the global health challenge inflicted on Nigerian.

The medical experts spoke on Wednesday at the opening of the 5th National Conference of Faculty of Social and Management Sciences, Yusuf Maitama Sule University, Kano, with the theme: addressing the challenges of COVID-19 pandemic through Social and Management Sciences Research.

In a keynote address, Provost, College of Health Sciences in the University, Professor Mohammad Kabir insisted government must extend extra efforts beyond medical and health measure deployed to arrest COVID-19 pandemic in Nigeria.

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The senior public health physician who cited several preventive measures enforced by Nigerian government to curtail the spread of the pandemic, emphasized the negatives impact such lockdown had generated especially to a common man in the country.

According to Professor Kabir, millions of Nigerians are still battling to return to normal life due to sociao-economic impact of COVID-19, urging government to rather device more strategic policies to restore economic lost.

” We are aware Government has put in place and introduced several measures to curtail the spread of COVID-19 pandemic. The measures include lockdown, closure of schools, markets that is aside the physical distancing, use of face mask and so many other measures.

” But we are saying the pandemic and related challenges go beyond medical and health problem because of the resultant impact. It has affected all facet of human existence. Now if we must handle the challenge holistically, we must shift attention to management of the impact.

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“Job loss, industrial collapse, economic melt down and other social difficulties. This is necessary especially because Nigeria is part of global economy recovery measures. I will also suggest research areas like job loss and COVID-19, impact of COVID-19 on business and many others to students of social and management sciences to advance knowledge”.

Also,  a Professor of Economics with Bayero University Kano, Mustapha Muktar cited how the pandemic forced the crude oil price in the international market below marginal line.

Why calling for proven recovery plans Professor Muktar urged government to improve on human development measures and business recovery measures to stabilize the economy.

On his part, Secretary to the Government of Kano state, Alh. Usman Alhaji who reminded the scourge of COVID-19 pandemic is yet to go, expressed confidence on the resilience of Nigeria to overcome the pandemic.

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The SSG who emphasized efforts of Kano state government during the peak of the pandemic, insisted that only less than 15 percent of death recorded during the period were COVID-19 attributed to COVID-19 complications.

He added that the Ganduje’s government had performed credibly well in less than six years in management of sociao-economic development more than any other governor, so far produced.

Vice Chancellor of the University, Processor Muktar Atiku Kurawa explained that the theme of the conference was considered to device alternative measures to manage post COVID-19 pandemic era through social and management sciences.