DC relives Covid-19 ordeal

SANFROSSA MANYINDA ZAMBIANS must take coronavirus seriously and support victims of the disease instead of poking fun or stigmatising them, says Nakonde District Commissioner (DC) Field Simwinga, who has just recovered from Covid-19 infection. Mr Simwinga said corona Virus is real and those that are still in doubt are only doing that because they have not been affected neither have they seen it happen to anyone closer to them. The DC was among numerous Nakonde residents, who were diagnosed with the virus in the border town of Muchinga province just as it was declared the Covid-19 epicentre. “I have not yet reported for work even now because I still feel a bit strange, because even the voice you are hearing now is not mine. It has changed because of the dry cough I had which is one of the symptoms of Covid-19,” he said. He said it was not easy to cope with the illness, but that health personnel were very helpful while the isolation centre was convenient and made patients feel comfortable. Mr Simwinga advised that people needed to understand that the corona virus was real and that they needed to stop believing in lies but in true testimonies from people like him that had directly experienced it. The Nakonde DC went into isolation even before the second lockdown and mass screening in Nakonde was announced. The town that neigbours Tanzania had recorded a spike of 76 cases on 10 May this year. He was initially advised to remain quarantined at his residence, but was later admitted to the Chinsali General Hospital isolation centre, until last week. Mr Simwinga said it was unfortunate that some people in the country were criticising and making fun of those that came out in the open to disclose their status. “Just looking at the comments people are making on this matter in the country, shows that they are not taking it seriously. “People think that someone who looks healthy cannot carry the virus, which is very wrong because I looked healthy before testing for Covid-19 despite having had symptoms that only I could feel,” he said. The DC explained that after noticing symptoms such as dry cough, shortness of breath and persistent headache, he together with six members of his family were tested and isolated at home. Mr Simwinga narrated that after the isolation period came to an end, he together with his family members again tested and that he at that point tested positive for the virus. “People in isolation are properly taken care of and I was personally placed on vitamin C because I was already symptomatic. I get so disturbed to hear people say that we do not have COVID-19 patients in Zambia when some of us have been directly affected. The DC explained that at the peak of the illness, he felt so much discomfort, he has never experienced in his life time. Mr Simwinga stressed that he would not want anyone to suffer from Covid-19 and urged all Zambians to follow the health regulations so that, one day, the virus could be eliminated. He noted that it would not have had taken Government to close important institutions such as schools if the virus was a joke as some people across the country were describing it. “Let us just continue observing the health guidelines especially social distancing and the wearing of masks. I contracted the virus because the nature of my job exposed me to a lot of people at the border including Tanzanian nationals. “I have experienced a lot of illnesses in my life but I have never experienced the discomfort that COVID-19 symptoms came with,” he explained. The DC maintained that only adherence to health guidelines could save the lives of many people and put an end to the deadly pandemic The Sun