Letters

To those providing essential services (doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health workers, soldiers, police officers, shop personnel, guards, cleaners and all those whose service is essential that they cannot stay home and thus serving as our first line of defence during this difficult time of novel coronavirus (Covid-19), I am writing to salute you for a great job you are doing.

So far, no death/s as a result of the coronavirus has been recorded in Namibia. Only time and appropriate prevention measures will tell a different story. In the meantime, the number of positively testing cases are slowly increasing. 

Times such as these are draining as they bring instability to our emotions. This means setting priorities is not a choice but a must as it requires us to gain knowledge and be enlightened to be able to do so.

The reason Coronavirus was declared a global pandemic is this crisis, the worst catastrophe post-World War II, is spreading at unprecedented levels, overwhelming health sectors in America and Europe, where health facilities are adequately funded and are world-class with modern equipment.

As a curriculum study student, I have analysed the revised broad curriculum of Namibia, which was implemented in 2015. Despite the challenges, we face daily, and the fact that many loose ends need tying up, there is still hope. 

The internationally dreaded coronavirus has sadly invaded Namibian borders as well. In response, the government rightly declared a state of emergency aimed at introducing measures to detect, combat, contain and minimise the spread of the virus among the population.

I was fortunate to engage with a few people on social media regarding the novel coronavirus (declared a pandemic by the World Health Organisation), which has now also tested positive on Namibian soil as of 13 March 2020.

It is relieving to see and hear how the government is working hard in putting up measures to prevent and try to contain the two confirmed coronavirus cases from further spreading. It is a relief knowing that events that may attract Covid-19 on a high scale have been postponed or even suspended.

The spectre of Covid-19 has befallen the world, creating a wave of global shock with reported cases mounting to approximately over 200 000 worldwide, claiming over 8 000 lives (World Health Organisation, 2020). Furthermore, according to the WHO approximately 151 countries have reported cases of Covid-19 of which 30 are from the African continent.

The majority of Namibians are young people, and these young people are brimming with high amounts of energy and hopes for a better future.