Experts have warned against the risk of the next pandemic, with a view that this will most likely come from the zoonotic spaces.
These discussions came up last evening during the Twitter Spaces on Preparedness for Future Pandemics and Post-Pandemic Recovery.
Hosted by journalist Raymond Mujuni, experts: Dr. Louis Kamulegeya (Projects Research Manager, Rocket Health), Dr. Arnold Ezama (Manager, Epidemics and Pandemics Preparedness and Response, Uganda Red Cross Society) and Dr. Daniel Kyabayinze, an epidemiologist at the Ministry of Health, agreed that over 70% of emerging and re-emerging diseases are zoonotic in nature.
“These are coming from wild animals mainly,” Dr. Ezama said, “The diseases that could cause a pandemic are those that are zoonotic in nature. They vary: could be respiratory, those that cause hemorrhages (Ebola, for example).”
So, Dr. Ezama said: “Basically as we get closer to these wild animals, as we see a lot of increased global mobility, we see population increase, urbanization, climate change, changes in food and agricultural systems, we are just so near to the next epidemic.”
According to Dr. Ezama, there is a need to be cognizant of the risks and have a preparedness aspect in there.
“People should be at the centre. They should be health literate. They should be able to know the basic thing that we should do to prevent ourselves from falling sick,” Dr. Ezama said.
Dr. Ezama linked the risks to the ecosystem thus: “The determinants of the next disease or epidemics are not only about humans but also the wild life.”
“The humans in the environment get closer to the animals through hunting, poaching. Our social and economic lives drive us to the next pandemic. So, it is key for us to understand that as we live in this environment, we need to live in it in a sustainable manner. We need to have aspects where the leaders are able to equitably distribute resources,” Dr. Ezama said.
According to Dr. Kyabayinze, the country currently has the capacity to deal with any emerging threats.
“The country now has more capacity, one of which is surveillance to keep a better watch of what is happening in the country in regards to zoonotic diseases, virus, etc,” Dr. Kyabayinze said adding that “That is preparedness number one.”
Apart from surveillance, the country currently has better diagnostic capacity.
“The laboratory capacity is in place. The community is now more aware. When we talk about an outbreak, they are able to understand and listen and take in advice as given. We have a more alert and in-tune political will and leadership. Everybody knows we have to work together if we are to fight a pandemic.”
Dr. Kyabayinze says “the Covid-19 gave us a reason to know that all of us are concerned.”
While Dr. Ezama and Dr. Kyabayinze talked about the threats and response capacity respectively, Dr. Kamulegeya says “Prevention might become the mainstay other than diagnostic or treatment.”
