THE ROLE OF MEDSAR SCOPHeros IN COMBATING COVID-19? All you have to know about COVID-19

Published by Medical Students' Association of Rwanda on April 28, 2020

The world’s ongoing challenge is coronavirus (COVID-19). So, in brief, we will talk about the origin of this virus, how it emerged and its mode of transmission not forgetting about the preventive measures to take into consideration for better results and safety. Well, one of the reasons why I am emphasizing the public’s cooperation with their health professionals is because I do sense a big impact it could make yet it has gone far from its roles in the fight for the best out of this crisis such as; rumors, -rumors from unreliable sources.-, not observing the advice and recommendations given by medical and health professionals as well as the government health officials. Thus, MEDSAR- SCOPHeros we got concerned as future health care professionals to raise awareness about Coronavirus to help the general population in knowing how to reduce its transmission mode, enhance its prevention and stop rumors concerning it. The information below is an updated review from some of our health officials and professionals, the World Health Organization (WHO), CDC, Health ministries and NCBI that could help us in the public take the fight to another level to help us overcome the challenge.

Well, medical students call to join the world to fight against COVID-19. Whereas Every human being including the young ones, married ones, all students, other students, health professionals, government officials are at risk .If everyone could change their mode of conduct other than showing less concern and leaving the workload only to health professionals and to the governments, this could make a great impact in slowing down the rate of transmission of the virus.

MEDSAR through SCOPH organized different activities to boost the general populations’ knowledge concerning COVID-19 through mainly 4 activities which include:

• radio talk at IZUBA radio on 18^th March 2020
• short online quiz to raise awareness on COVID-19
• online talk on telegram on 19^th March 2020
• online campaign for 5 days from 20^th to 24^th March 2020

a short recall on this World pandemic disease

Brief history of the virus and how it emerged:

• COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a novel virus belonging to coronavirus family and first began in Wuhan, China 2019. By nomenclature it was named “Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2” SARS-COV2.
• The outbreak of Coronavirus was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020.
• Unfortunately COVID-19 spreads everyday in many countries including Rwanda whose first case was confirmed on 14^th March 2020.

How the disease is transmitted:

• The disease can be transmitted from person to person who are in close contact of about 1m through small droplets from the nose or mouth produced when an infected person sneezes or coughs.
• People can also catch COVID-19 virus by touching objects around an infected or surfaces then touching their eyes, nose or mouth.

Symptoms of COVID-19

• Fever,
• Dry cough,
• Difficulty breathing,
• Tiredness

Prevention of COVID-19:

Well, specifically, this part is the heaviest as far as this article is concerned. As for there is no specific antiviral treatment recommended for COVID-19 currently and there is no vaccine. But here below are some preventions measures taken against COVID-19.

• Avoiding close contact with subjects suffering from acute respiratory infections
• Washing hands frequently, especially after contact with infected people or their environment.
• Avoiding unprotected contact with farm or wild animals since COVID-19 is zoonotic.
• People with symptoms of acute airway infection should keep their distance, cover coughs or sneezes with disposable tissues or clothes and wash their hands.
• Strengthen, in particular, in emergency medicine departments, the application of strict hygiene measures for the prevention and control of infections.

However, all these aren’t the reasons to panic just like any healthcare provider or professional would recommend. By the way “the world is suffering more deadly from rumors than COVID-19 itself.” Said Dr. Dukuze Norbert in an online talk using telegram with Rwandan medical students.  Another point tackled is that “we don’t have to fear or panic as the fear is the impression of running away but rather to be concerned as concern is the impression of getting involved.”Dr. Norbert tells the medical students. Well, this brings me to the main purpose of this writing this article; earnestly speaking, anyone capable of making rational judgments can perceive how much our governments are doing all they can to overcome this pandemic, the medical professionals and other healthcare providers who are working relentlessly and staying awake all night, the researchers in the labs and other experts involved just to overcome this pandemic.

Therefore, I would like to conclude this article by a few remarks; COVID-19 is still evolving and this has awaken scientists and researchers as they are studying this virus to get us out of the situation, public screenings has also started in some countries so as to identify the patients as early as they can, governments are trying their best to support their citizens who have been affected by the situation and therefore no need to be anxious but being responsible, alert and observing every possible means to not give the virus a chance.

By the way, let’s keep informed and getting updates from the WHO and our health ministries. This way, we could come to a common goal and let’s follow instructions from our respective health ministry.

Done by MUGISHA Innocent