COVID-19: Be well informed and guard against misinformation before more people are duped

NDANGWA JOHN ANDREWS MWITTAH

IT is sad that in the wake of something as serious as the coronavirus, an outbreak that was recently declared a global pandemic, people could still be making fun of it and other people on social media.

There is a video that has gone viral and making rounds on social media of an elderly woman, old enough to be my grandmother who was swindled by some unscrupulous people somewhere in Southern province.

The named woman - albeit sensing the danger that surrounds us went to the market to buy hand sanitisers and hand washing soap to protect herself and her family from the virus that has claimed many lives and left others battling for theirs.

Instead of being sold what she wanted, the woman was instead sold some dish-washing liquid formula and sponge. Who does that?

In the video, the woman who was clearly robbed was seen being mocked by those that were taking the video. In all fairness, this is not the time to start making fun of this disease. It is high time Zambians took this pandemic seriously.

It calls for a multi-sectoral approach, as clearly, there is a lot of sensitisation that is needed out there. The authorities, traditional leaders, civic leaders, church leaders and indeed everyone that can, must take it upon themselves to go flat out and educate the people on the dangers of the disease, how to prevent it and also the recommended items needed to help combat the pandemic - here, the media must also be proactive in sending out accurate information to curb the misinformation being spread.

Speaking of misinformation, there is also word going round on social media advising people not to use the face masks donated to Africa by the Jack Ma Foundation saying they are infected with the virus.

Clearly, these are falsehoods.

Those of us privileged enough to have access to accurate information, we must also ensure that we share it with relatives and friends that may not be privy to such information, especially those in rural areas.

From the numbers that are coming from the world's biggest economies, it goes to show that as Africa, we are not ready or adequately prepared for this virus. We must therefore take it upon ourselves to do everything possible to curb the spread of the virus.

Government agencies such as the Zambia Bureau of Standards (ZABS), Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (CCPC) and other like minded agencies must also ensure that these products being sold are of the recommended standard. There has been reports of retailers cashing in on unauthorised substandard products to desperate and unsuspecting people, such as the old woman in question.

Others are also diluting the liquid soap and hand sanitisers - all of which will come to an exercise in futility regarding the fight against the coronavirus. The pandemic is real, it is high time we took the measures put up by the Government seriously.

Ndangwa Mwittah is a Livingstone based Zambia Daily Mail correspondent.