Corona Lockdown ends Midnight: the lessons learned, the next steps.

By: Ibrahim Jalloh - (Jallomy)

The greatest value in the response efforts in combating the Corona virus is the abounding political will magnanimously given by the chief Executive of State, the retired Brigadier Bio. 

The great Leadership demonstrated by the President is foundational to the momentum and graduation of the response efforts to a visible national character

The state of Sierra Leone awakes to a rude shock: the threat of the outbreak of the Corona. Progressive action was taken in a vigorous and coordinated manner: a national broadcast was made to give assurance and hope to an apparently panicked and traumatized nation, a State of Public Emergency was declared and, with the emergence of the index case, a three day national lockdown was enforced. 

Running through all of these, coordination mechanisms were established, safety protocols developed, health messages designed and relevant state institutions jumped into action.

For a better part of the beginning, time, energy and resources were directed to prevention and preparation. Today, we are at the response stage.

Admittedly, Sierra Leone and her people are not new to situations of this nature. The national exposure to and experience with the Ebola left behind the institutional memory and the operational structures that we can easily and conveniently leverage on.

The three days lockdown is the thing! It has been difficult but understandably so. The sacrifice, if defined thus, is worthwhile to save a nation with the greatest vulnerability to crumble under the Corona virus disease

But what can we learn from the lockdown? 

Sierra Leone is a heavily polarized national along the predatory lines of tribe, region and political party. However, a compromise culture exist in the practice of Sierra Leoneans coming together, standing together and fighting together when the national is under crisis or on the brink of collapse. This was a proven case during the war, the Ebola and, not too long ago, the mudslide. 

The rate of compliance was super high. Makeni city, her immediate environs, major settlements in the districts of Karene and Tonkolili were like desecrated grave yards. Undescribable silence and decorum descended on these communities. The police and related security apparatus were technically redundant.

The positional leadership of the president drives in a sense of trust and confidence in the citizenry.

Our international and national development partners demonstrated an incredibly high levels of support

The initial success was the peoples ownership of the fight. 

There are critical threat factors. The tempting urge to politicize the response efforts is a shattering reality. Our mostly inappropriate cultural practices, the copious circulation of conspiracy theories and the tendency to reduce the response efforts to an industry are worrying.

With the looming threats and ravaging consequences of the Corona virus in countries with healthy economies and better organized medical facilities, a near future Lockdown is imminent and almost sacrosanct!

We need to come together one more time to save our country and lives from extinction and unredeemable ruin.