Let’s not discriminate against Chinese in virus war
By Stephen Ndegwa, March 5, 2020The novel coronavirus, known medically as COVID-19, has thrown the world into panic mode.
Perhaps it’s because the virus is said to kill people within few weeks of infection.
Or could the fright be as a result of a well-orchestrated stratagem due to the “weaponisation” of the virus.
There is no denying that we have a massive problem, to say the least. The spread of new coronavirus after its discovery in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China is of global concern.
Due to the virus’ novelty and fluidity, the media is awash with fake news and conspiracy theories about its origin.
First, let us thank the heavens that the virus is yet to significantly touch base in Africa, and Kenya in particular.
With our inept and corrupt healthcare system, we would implode within a couple of months.
No one understands the reason Africa has not been heavily hit, although there are several theories doing the rounds.
So far, the immunity of Africans has been attributed to the hot tropical weather, or just something in the genes.
Heck, there are even prophecies about the spectacle! But we cannot sit pretty as the chosen few. It is better to be safe, than sorry.
I am an ardent critic of the status quo. So do not mistake my empathy for the Kenya government’s approach in managing the virus as an endorsement of its perennial gaffes.
To give credit where it is due, is the cool, calm and collected manner the government is handling this extremely sensitive issue— if this reaction is premeditated, and not as a result of official lethargy.
Running scared will not help the cause. We need to fully understand the enemy in order to come up with prudent strategies of tackling the scare.
Honestly, you do not wake up one day and throw your friends under the bus, simply because they are experiencing some tough times.
We cannot be fair weather friends or opportunists with China after they have walked with us this far.
As close development partners for the last two decades, this is the time that the Chinese need us most.
Of course, China also understands that we need to protect ourselves, especially because we do not have the medical and technological capacity that has enabled the country to effectively curb further spread of the virus within their borders.
The worst thing that can happen to our humanity as Kenyans, and Africans as a whole, is getting into the bandwagon of prejudice and discrimination against the Chinese, as a result of this unfolding pandemic.
For instance, how do I stop meeting my Chinese acquaintances, some of who I even interacted with at the beginning of this week, because I fear contracting coronavirus? Is that even human?
Some countries have restricted Chinese nationals from accessing various domestic facilities and locations. Now, do Africans remember how they were treated at the height of the HIV/Aids pandemic?
They were generally stigmatised around the world. Even within the continent, people were suspicious among themselves as a precautionary measure against contracting HIV.
Ending stigma on HIV through behaviour change communication programmes has gobbled up millions of dollars in information, communication and education campaigns. Let us spread the message that China and coronavirus are not synonymous.
Basically, we should be more introspective about our circumstances, and handling this crisis.
Right now the virus is a convenient scapegoat, but I could not have put it better than the following post, which I recently picked from social media: “A Kenyan who has contaminated tap water…eaten fish laced with mercury and meat preserved with formaldehyde and vegetables grown and nurtured by raw sewage…is worried about coronavirus while taking a boda boda ride without a helmet!!We are going to be OK!”
—The writer is an author, communication specialist, and public policy analyst. ndegwasm@gmail.com