Obligations of the People and the Government to Combat Covid-19

The Coronavirus has so far caused 83 thousand deaths and has infected 1.44 million of the world population. The virus has taken most lives in Italy and the US is the most infected country in the world. Afghanistan is also among the countries who is suffering from Covid-19, as the number of infected individuals keeps rising. So for, 14 people have passed away due to the virus.

The coronavirus was first discovered in China and killed numerous people at its first stages. However, after some effective measure taken by the Chinese government, the virus seems tackled in the country. Here, we discuss preventive measure taken by the Afghan government against the virus, challenges and facilities to identify the virus, efforts made by the government, and the condition of people after the lockdowns in the capital and provinces.

Afghanistan and the Coronavirus

After the coronavirus infection cases increased in Iran, many Afghans living in Iran started to return to Afghanistan. According to International Refugees organization, more than 136 thousand Afghans have returned from Iran to Afghanistan in the last three months. In addition, around 72 thousand refugees have returned to Afghanistan from Iran in March, 2020, IRO reports.

According to the studies of World Health Organization (WHO), Covid-19 is an infectious viral disease which can be easily transmitted from one human being to another. As Herat, Nimroz and Farah provinces are on the frontier with Iran, therefore, Coronavirus cases were first discovered in these provinces and still have comparatively higher number of cases. In order to combat coronavirus spread, civil activists and the public continuously requested the government to take preventive measure against the returning immigrants from Iran at the first stages of the spread. Although Afghanistan does not have same facilities as other countries does, but they were still able to screen the symptomatic individuals and isolate the infected ones. Conversely, the government was not able to control the spread as it was needed to, which consequently, caused spread the virus to other provinces. The Ministry of Public Health of Afghanistan confirms that most of the infected individuals are who have either returned from Iran, or have been in contact with those who have returned from Iran.

So far, Afghanistan has more than 423 coronavirus cases and the death toll has risen to 14 individuals. The ministry of Public Health has expressed that if quarantine is not taken seriously, coronavirus cases can rise to three million and death toll might reach a hundred thousand deaths.

Strategy to Quarantine Provinces and the Living Condition of People

After the discovery and increase of covid-19 cases in Herat provinces, the officials of MoPH requested the government to lockdown Herat province. Until few days, their request was not considered by authorities, which should have been. In addition, the MoPH also claimed that some groups do not want Herat province to be quarantined. Later, the government step up to take preventive measures and commence its operations with the lockdown of Herat, Nimroz and Farah provinces. Subsequently, when positive cases of Covid-19 were reported in Kabul, the lockdown proposal of the capital was indorsed on 27th March, 2020. Among the problems, population and poverty in the capital are obstacles that solemnly affect the condition of citizens.

How to tackle Covid-19 spread?

The virus has greatly challenged and raised concerns for developed countries of the world.  As Afghanistan is severely affected by insecurity and economic shortcomings, unless preventive measure are taken seriously, the prediction of infection cases and death toll by MoPH can become a reality.

Hence, considering the competence of the government, people are also obliged to support the government, especially health organizations, to combat the coronavirus. In this regard, some businessmen have shown their support through financial support and allocation of buildings for isolation.

The health sector of Afghanistan is facing challenges due to unavailability of expansive buildings to serve as isolation centers. Therefore, allocation of building for coronavirus patients can greatly assist the battle against covid-19 spread.

Correspondingly, the government needs to attract additional foreign aids, as the current condition of Afghanistan is too feeble to survive sudden coronavirus crisis and avoid any related tragedies. Moreover, the government needs to spend foreign financial aids and the national allocated budget to fight coronavirus effectively and transparently. Until today, the US has announced 15 million and the world Bank has proclaimed 100 million aid to combat Covid-19. The foreign aids are expected to increase in the future.

Most importantly, effective implementation of preventive measure can tackle covid-19 transmission. Although the government has prohibited joining gatherings and crowded areas, but the public should also consider social distancing as their national and religious obligation and assist the government to combat the spread.

Returning immigrants from other countries should undertake self-isolation, in order to prevent possible covid-19 transmission. Additionally, the government should instigate more schemes to increase public awareness about the virus and how to protect oneself from the virus.

Also, as the public will face financial problems due to quarantine, the government and well-off class of the country should make their contribution and donations. In this regard, Shah Mahmood Miakhel, governor of Nangarhar has initiated a fund program and some businessmen has presented their donations and assistance, but similar programs needs to instigated in other provinces, so that necessities of the public are met during lockdowns.

Beside this the creation of a national coalition to fight the CoronaVirus, would help the Afghan government to fight the Corona Virus, which is led by Dr Syed Khalid Rashed, and includes civil society activists, scholars, and social organizations.

The Afghan government and businessmen should not only endorse these kind of initiatives but they also must support these kind of charitable organizations which help the public in this pandemic.