COVID-19: THE HYDRA HEADED CONSPIRACIES AND THE REST OF US
By Eshiomomoh Ifoga
Epidemics On The Other Side of The World Are A Threat To Us All. No epidemic Is Just Local
Peter Piot (February 17, 1949-)

From time immemorial, mother earth had witnessed shedload of pandemics with countless numbers of deaths. Going by historical trends, pandemics may arguably be one of earth’s ways of self-preservation mechanisms from the imminent overpopulation of the human race.

Whilst there exist no scientific hypothesis to support this feeble attempt to carve out a novel “pandemics vs population paradox”, the truth is pandemics have somewhat flattened the human population growth curve. But for the bubonic plague of the 14th century which killed about 25 million, the population of Europe would have been thrice its present size. An estimated 32 million people have died from the HIV scourge according to the World Health Organization (W.H.O).

The COVID-19 outbreak recently became an unpleasant (and avoidable) addition to the list of pandemics potentially capable of reducing the human population significantly going by the burgeoning number of daily casualties.

As the smoldering smoke from the death toll of the COVID-19 pandemic rends global economies, the hitherto unknown city of Wuhan (in China) would remain a talking and reference point in years to come. In proper context, Wuhan sneezed and the entire world literally caught cold.

Expectedly, the conspiracy theory spewing machines went on overdrive mode with many accusing China of using the COVID-19 as a weaponized biological warfare for world dominance. In the wake of the reported COVID-19 human indices outside China, excerpts from the 1981 thriller novel “The Eyes of Darkness” by Dean Koontz cluttered the Social Media space.

The detailed description of the potency of the newly developed biological warfare coupled with the exact name of the city lends credence to the fact that the COVID-19 pandemic was a foretold plan written on the pages of pernicious minds with the eyes of darkness. According to Dean Koontz:

“They call the stuff Wuhan-400 because it was developed at their RNA labs outside the city of Wuhan, and it was four-hundredth viable strain of man-made microorganisms created at that research centre. Wuhan-400 is a perfect weapon”.

While the West grapple with the scourge, Wuhan recorded an impressive recovery rate leaving the entire world stunned by this “Made-In-China” miracle. The swift response in curtailing the spread of COVID-19 became the springboard for the Chinese economic growth. As it stands, the Shanghai Stock Exchange (SSE) is the world’s best performing stock market.

As the conspiracy theories rage on, the COVID-19 pandemic is fast becoming the game changer for the shifting of paradigms and the rebirth of new realities.

First, globalization would wear a new garb, developed countries may likely become more isolationistic in their dispositions. Bilateral international trades may longer be the usual two-way street. Nationalism would be a top priority on the negotiation table of multilateral international business transactions. India and China (two sub-continents) abruptly stopped the exportation of face masks to forestall the possibility of a devastating health crisis should the unimaginable happen.

Many have posited that the COVID-19 pandemic was avoidable but for the uncontrollable strange appetite for animals (by some Chinese) considered unfit for human consumption. The Hantavirus which resides in rats recently claimed its first Chinese victim. The world’s perception is being shaped into accepting China as the hotbed for the consumption of virally infested cuisine capable of causing a worldwide pandemic.

As a result, a country like Italy may review its stance towards multiculturalism. The devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic would still reverberate in the country’s consciousness in many decades to come. For the records, there are about 300,000 Chinese living in Italy.

Africa, with her age long history of underdevelopment fueled by poor leadership would most likely bear the brunt as countries strategically form alliances to combat the raging devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The governments of the G7 countries have announced different stimulus packages and varying palliatives to whittle down the attendant economic effects of the nationwide lockdowns on their respective citizens.

The stark reality is that most African countries are on the brink of economic collapse courtesy the burdensome repayment terms of loans from Beijing coupled with the covert economic pressure exerted by former colonial powers.

In Nigeria, the COVID-19 pandemic had further exposed the gross irresponsibility of those at the helms of our national affairs. While Governor Andrew Cuomo renewed calls for the massive deployment of ventilators in the State of New York, our distinguished lawmakers were taking deliveries of 400 brand new Toyota Camry Cars (2020 Model). A whopping N4.6Billion ($11,518,200 for each) of tax payers’ monies were spent to purchase luxury cars at a period the country is reeling from the plummeting global oil prices.

Going by the econometric projections, Nigeria may slide into recession in six months’ time barring any significant spike in global oil prices.
Taking a cursory look at the 2020 budget, the paltry 4.5% allocation to the Health Sector succinctly depicts the Nigerian Government’s aloofness to the most critical sector of the economy.

The Health Sector is an eye sore. The Hospitals are moribund, our trained Medical Doctors leave the shores of the country in droves. The dearth of medical personnel in the Nigerian Health Sector is beyond alarming.

A developed country like Italy desperately resorted to seeking reinforcements from Cuba. The United States of America (USA) urged medical professionals in the world to apply for the H and J Visas.

The COVID-19 pandemic could be the final opportunity for the Nigerian Government to overhaul the Health Sector. The Federal Government as a matter of urgency should declare a state of emergency on the Health Sector. Pandemics are no respecter of race or social class.

Nigerians cannot afford to rely on hope in moments like this where the binary outcomes of staying alive or dying is largely dependent on the responsiveness and preparedness of a vibrant Health Sector. Hope is never a strategy.

Hope won't cure us. Vaccines will