COVID-19 IS HERE TO STAY, AND WE MUST LEARN TO LIVE WITH IT.

As a doctor in the forefront of this pandemic, i often get lost in thoughts about varying issues and possibilities.

Somewhere I'd always hoped that somehow, this phase will fizz out and we'd return to normal. I'd go to the old english store, buy a bottle of palmwine, stroll the streets listening to the palmwine express, and vibe with new people.

Maybe i'd even scale the fence and go and play ball at a local primary school field with my guys, play the evening away whilst arguing who gave who "osi". Lol. My bad. That was Medical school 😂

Sometimes my mind drifts to the walking dead, where a lot of people got infected with some zombie-turning virus, and things got really bad. A cure was never found. Somehow learnt to live with it, Actually, they HAD to. Beyond the Gory scenes, inhumane murders in what looks like a post-apocalyptic world that brings out the worst in humanity, maybe there's something to learn from this. To learn to live with.

Not so similar scenarios happened in the past, during the much talked about HIV pandemic. Even took the then popular "Eazy-E". (Okay, only got this info from a movie haha). Years down the line, we've got drugs to manage the illness, though long term, and slowly the stigma is clearing. Now whilst the dynamics of the illness varies widely from this one, they do share some vague similarities.

One thing is for sure. The lockdown must end sometime. The social and economic implications are grave, and it cannot be sustained. But covid-19, as it has shown everyone, may not end, anytime soon. An illness so contagious, with low antibody titres, it could even come in waves. Year in year out. Incessantly punishing those who fail to recognize it's presense. We simply can't wait out this storm, Nor can we use an umbrella and pretend we walk in the storm to a destination. We must learn to survive in this storm. And not just survive, thrive.

Vacciñes are on the way, drugs have been pitted against it. It's now glaring that hydroxychloroquine does nothing against it through recent data, just like the glorofied herbal concoction from Madagascar(fine fine it's just my opinion). Although a new drug remdesivir has shown some effectiveness. But not enough to declare a win. Lots of trials on the way, but experts reckon we may not see anything for years. Vaccines at best take a year to develop, and that's at its fastest rate, may be 18months, may be more.

We're truly in a precarious state. Aren't we?Reader?

Even more ungratifying are the healthcare workers. At some point they will all be exposed, if the PPE's were adequate, it would be good, but most PPEs given to emergency staff are more of pseudoprotective clothing. So even if they wear that and attend to a suspected case that ends up positive, ethics demands that they must self isolate. When they go on isolation, almost at the same time,or fall ill, entire hospitals will shutdown.

What about the doctors in training that must go to the wards to learn? Do you allow students who are not being paid risk their life at wards and hostels when there's every possible that corona virus lurks?

Yet again we must take the bull by the horn. And we must accept the fact that covid-19 is here to stay. And as we have all adapted to various situations thrown, we must learn, to live with it. It is the uncomfortable truth, the bitter pill we must swallow.

One thing however is sure, the cases will continue to rise, irregardless of the lockdown. And we can't sustain a lockdown for months. We must brace for the incoming impact, and learn to live with the disease. Maybe sooner, rather than later.

More and more emphasis may be placed on working at home, lectures and schools would now take place over the internet proper, churches and religious gatherings would continue to be streamed, Telemedicine would now be an established thing, a lot more people would believe in ordering items and having it delivered to their doorsteps. And many more. Football would be recommenced, may be played closed doors and players subjected to regular testing pre-match. Weddings and burials would have less guests and virtual attendance, induction ceremonies would be conducted online and maybe ward rounds would too. Culture describes the way of life of people, and culture, varying cultures over the world, would inevitably change.

The world has we know it has changed. Even though we were not ready, we all must accept the solemn fact. This is the first step to truly living, don't you think so?

I'd never imagined this is what the world would look like when i began to practice, but sometimes when life gives you lemons, you realise it's okay, not to make a lemonade.