Burundi Government approach to COVID-19 pandemic, Stage 1
Briefing Issue #66, Thursday, April 2, 2020
Dear Readers,
The Burundi Government statement on COVID-19 that many of us were waiting for is finally released. Burundians were curious to know the next decisions to be taken by the government.
Being on the list of five last countries to confirm the COVID-19 cases, Burundi has had enough time to monitor several approaches to the COVID-19 fight. Governments around the world have taken various approaches, only the future and the results will really let us know what was the best.
Here are the key points, and what we understood reading the Burundi Government statement
1. The fight against COVID-19 can’t be won in the environment of rumors and fear
The very first paragraph of the statement acknowledges the importance to combat misinformation the same way the population needs to combat the virus itself. After the confirmation of the two first cases, people anticipated that the Burundi government might take drastic measures such as total lockdown, but the government confirmed that keeping the normal life course of the citizen will remain its priority.
2. Follow the guidelines, citizen or foreigners there are no exceptions
Another point that this statement clarifies is that uncoordinated prevention initiatives (Ndlr, Closing school, public gathering, etc) are considered illegal. At this stage, the strategy apparently is “don’t go beyond and take next-level prevention measures that aren’t yet announced by the official’s institutions”. Analysts think that this systematic approach will be supported by series of decrees that will gradually lead to an effective response to the virus, orchestrated as a coherent system of actions taken simultaneously.
3. Monitoring the evolutions and learning from other contexts
According to the statement decision making in the management of the COVID-19 pandemic will be based first on the evolution of the situation, and secondly on the preservation of the interests of Burundians and of the Country of Burundi. Commentators see in Burundi’s interest today: the continuation of the Electoral Process, the free movement inside the countries and the continuation of all business and public activities.
4. Security, Justice and Trade Ministries has the responsibility to prevent or take action to stop excessive pricing
The government warns businesses that raise prices unexpectedly taking advantage of the coronavirus outbreak. The rising demand for some goods and services drove the price up already. For many commentators, businesses should behave responsibly throughout the coronavirus outbreak and not make misleading claims or charge vastly inflated prices amid reports of price hikes and panic buying.
5. Drawing on lessons learned from other outbreaks, and prayers
The Burundi government mentions that in the past, Burundians won the fight against cholera dysentery and other many outbreaks, reassures that Burundi shall overcome COVID-19 too, and call Burundians to work, pray, implore God to defeat the coronavirus.
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The bottom line
As the Nigerian novelist and poet Ben Okri puts it, there is a great difference between panic and awareness. With awareness, there is responsibility, a respect for the scale of the problem, and a calm consciousness of what needs to be done.
One can be aware of the coronavirus, aware of what needs to be done to minimize its spread – and we must do those things. But one should not make the situation worse with the negative imagination that is fear. For, like fire, imagination can create or it can destroy. It can make us act from our worst selves.
Is this the best approach for Burundi? This is a hard question to answer now, but it is cleary that the anchor point of the approach to Fight COVID-19 is on curbing the Spread of Germs and Rumors. In coming days, we shall know how this strategy unfolds, but it reasonable to expect a new serie of announcements from the government as the situation evolves.
Stay safe!
Fabrice Iranzi
Editor, RegionWeek.com
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