BAGUIO CITY – Inamin ng isang Zimbabwean singer na nangangamba ang marami sa kanilang bansa sakaling maging susunod na epicenter ang Africa ng COVID-19.
Sa exclusive interview ng Star FM Baguio kay Flint Bedrock, isang Zimbabwean at UK-based pop singer na nadamay sa lockdown habang nagbabakasyon sa kanyang hometown, sinabi nitong datapwat mababa ang mga naitalang kaso ng coronavirus sa bansa, sila naman ay nababahala dahil na rin sa mababang testing rate roon.
Sa kasalukuyan ay mayroong 34 na kaso ng coronavirus sa bansa habang apat ang namatay.
“The numbers are not as much at the moment because we haven’t really done a lot of testing. It’s a very scary situation as you can imagine. People don’t really know what is going on. This is a new thing for everybody in the world.”
Dahil umano sa kinakaharap na krisis ng bansa pagdating sa kahirapan, hindi anya kakayanin ng health care system nito sakaling dumami pa ang kaso roon.
“There isn’t any known cure. There isn’t any known vaccine. Zimbabwe is struggling economically. We don’t have the best health facilities in the world. If you were to get ill and find yourself needing medical care, that would be a challenge.”
Gaya ng nabanggit ng World Health Organization, natatakot rin anya sila na ang Africa ang susunod na epicenter ng nakamamatay na sakit.
“We are not equipped to deal with the rise of numbers or a sudden spike [of cases]. It would be a massive tragedy. Many people would undoubtedly lose their lives. One hopes that it will not come to that. Africa really would not be able to deal with that. There’s a lot of poor countries in Africa which are not equipped to deal with that.”
Kuwento pa nito na matinding naapektuhan ang mga hanapbuhay ng mga residente sa bansa dahil sa ipinapatupad na lockdown. Marami rin anya ang nawalan ng trabaho.
“A lot of people are employed in the informal sector which has been severely disrupted by the lockdown. It’s quite difficult for people who rely on their businesses.”
Bagamat nangangamba sila sa sitwasyon, naniniwala naman ang singer na matatag at kayang malampasan ng mga Zimbabweans ang mga krisis na dadating pa sa kanila dahil nga sa dami ng pagsubok na pinagdaanan ng bansa.
“Zimbabweans are very resilient people. We’ve had a lot of hardships in the past in terms of the economy and politics. We try and do whatever is necessary.”
Samantala, nagbigay rin ito ng mensahe para naman sa mga patuloy na naaapektuhan ng COVID-19 pandemic.
“No one was really prepared for this. Everyone is scared and confused. Everyone’s had plans for 2020. Stay strong, be patient, stay healthy, stay motivated. Make sure that you find some activity that you can do even around your home that would keep your brain active. Talk to your family.”
Sa kasalukuyan ay nasa ilalim ng nationwide lockdown ang bansang Zimbabwe.
