Written by Richard Kayenda
Just this morning, Malawi has now joined the bandwagon of other countries world over which have lost precious human lives to the pandemic of Covid 19.
Subsequently, the Special Cabinet Committee on Covid 19, Chaired by the Minister of Health, Honourable Jappie Mhango, held a press briefing to update the nation on the death but also to remind Malawians of the preventive measures that must be observed if winning the battle against the killer disease is anything to go by.
Surprisingly, the Minister just revealed that three more positive cases of the disease have been confirmed in Blantyre and Chikhwawa.
According to the Minister, two ladies in Blantyre travelled back from the United Kingdom (UK) while one gentleman returned from the Republic of South Africa mid last month.
Apparently, rumours are rife that prior to the presidential announcement of the three confirmed cases of the Covid 19 patients in Lilongwe last Thursday, a team of health workers had just tested some Malawians whom they suspected to have been in contact with the Covid 19 patients, but results were very unclear; perhaps due to unpreparedness in terms equipment.
However, when the same team suggested of retaking the tests, they were virtually barred from the exercise by some officials from the Ministry of Health.
Now if this is true, should Malawians not conclude that there are more cases of Covid 19 in the country, only that they are not yet confirmed by our health workers?
Surely, Malawi is sitting on ticking bomb that is to detonate sooner that expected. The eight cases who are by far confirmed; with one death reported, could be but a tip of the iceberg.
It is baffling news that a couple of weeks ago, some Malawians returned from South Africa through unchartered routes when the Rainbow Nation announced a total lockdown from 26 March to 16 April, 2020.
These returnees are out and about untested. What if some of them came back to Malawi with the Virus? What chances are there that other Malawians will be saved from contracting it?