Can we also listen to these?
I have listened the first and the last. The second I dropped it once she started promoting her book. I have my standards. Once you commercialize knowledge which is readily available, I drop you from my radar.
Now with regards to the first and the last video, partially I do I agree with their arguments, and I think we have discussed this before. Their views are rooted in epidemiology and the application of data. They have some good points as the data indicates who is vulnerable and who's isn't. And if you listen careful to them, you will find out that those who promote the use of nyungu and herbs for health young adults are worse than those have imposed lockdowns on this population.
What I don't agree with them is the disregard of preventive measures that governments have tried to implement during the short period of Covid-19 existence. There are a lot of thing we don't know about this disease and I think to treat this disease like a seasonal flu is bit irresponsible at this point in time. Certainly, there is a semblance but we don't haven't mastered the science of the disease yet. Remember, the major outbreak of respiratory disease of this proportion was more than 100 years ago when the science of modern medicine was in its infancy. So, we have to learn this new disease and build our capability faster.
Furthermore, they make their points after the facts. Remember when the disease started in China more than a year ago, we didn't know about the nature of the disease. Additionally, there were no data to point out where to start and how to deal with the disease. For example, we didn't have the idea of the second wave until the data showed the spike. Certainly, one could brag now that he predicted the second spike. But prediction don't beat empirical observations. And the reality is for any instance, there are tons of predictions and majority of them go down the drain. Take for instance Tanzania. The government believed that the disease was gone. That belief was rooted in prediction. Lo and behold. It has come back with vengeance. The truth of the matter is we build our capability and mitigate the risks as we move along as we don't know what is in store for us in the future.
Epidemiologists and other experts can describe this disease from a mortality rate point of view and they can conclude that there's no threats. However, that isn't the way governments deal with their populations. Therefore, I can understand the views of those two gentlemen who are in their retirements. It seems to them that if you are seventy or above, you have already spent the best part of your life and there's nothing to be afraid of because it is your turn to die. I get that. But, there is a moral obligation to take care of elderly and those with preexisting medical conditions.
Apart from the moral issue, there's an economic issue at play. For example, young people recovery well from the disease, but the medical costs they incur when sick and medical leaves they take to recover are prohibitive. So when you factor in economic and social issues, it is reasonable to enforce stringent measures to fight Covid-19. Besides, the older generation is the economic engine in most of the well developed countries. Their number per population is good. They are wealth and spent their money in areas that spur economic growth. Why wouldn't you want to protect this demographic?
And as African you have to take medical data with seriousness. For example, if data indicates that the disease kills a lot of people who are 70 or above in Europe, in Tanzania you have to minus that by 10 or 15 years to get the range that could be applicable to our situation.
Personally, I am not against the presentation on the first and third videos. I think their point of views should be heard. Likewise, government of Tanzania should welcome other points of views in this debate. To impose your point of views in the population is authoritarian.