– The Economist: Why is the number of Covid-19 cases increasing in Morocco?
– Allal Amraoui: It is completely normal to come across as many clusters as we increase our capacity to test actively, even in the absence of any clinical symptomatology. These measures can only be effective if, individually and collectively, we take precautions to protect ourselves and others, maintain physical distance, continue to wash our hands, and wear a mask all the time and in front of everyone. outside the inner circle of the little family. It is clear that there is a visible relaxation by a large part of the population. The government lacked a global political vision of public health and pedagogy, during the preparation of the deconfinement, even accusing a harmful and unexplained delay in its implementation. The challenge was to bring and gain the support of the general population for the protection measures which absolutely had to follow on from the successful response measures of the early phases of the epidemic. As a reminder, HM the King set the example and the tone by applying distancing measures very early on. On March 11, the Sovereign already respected the distancing when appointing the 4 new members of the constitutional court. He has worn the protective mask in all his public activities, since April 7, showing the interest of this barrier measure.
– Has the government failed in this educational mission of protection?
– Unfortunately, we also saw members of the government, especially Mr. El Othmani, who was practically on each public appearance without this mask. In this way, the Head of Government created a wavering and uneasiness around this highly altruistic measure. The random wearing of the mask by the general population at work, in the souks or on the street, is one of the obvious flaws in the government’s communication policy. Collective responsibility is an addition of individual responsibility. The best example of the importance of vigilance at all times is the fact that even in hospital settings in Morocco, or elsewhere in Europe, settings rightly considered to be the most risky, the contaminations did not occur at block or in contact with the sick as expected, but rather in rest rooms when protection and attention have been relaxed by the staff.
– Should we fear a second wave and how to stabilize the contamination?
– We can’t talk about a second wave. Because, we cannot say that we had a real first wave, but rather, clusters to manage at the same time. Some more important than others. Do not over-dramatize or panic or underestimate. It is a matter of relearning to live with this risk, to overcome it, to train it, to control it and not to deny it or to be paralyzed. The challenge is to find the necessary balance between protecting the population and making sure to limit socio-economic damage as much as possible. We can do both, and remember that a bad economy has an inexorable impact on health. We must show intelligence, creativity, communication and a lot of pedagogy to enable citizens to protect themselves from danger while leading their social and professional life. Fundamental public health measures must therefore be maintained and reinforced, as the WHO constantly recommends. Testing, finding, isolating and taking charge of each case and tirelessly seeking each contact … are not to be outdone. We are better equipped to extend the tests more and more. For this, it is essential to open up and make the human and material resources of private laboratories profitable.
– Countries have reconfigured populations …
– If we observe China or Mexico, we realize that there is no seasonality, but the return of winter is worrying. We will not need reseeding because the virus will still be there. The return of the virus is still likely, but what is certain is that we are better prepared, and we must be more. Reinforcing our stocks of masks, reagents, drugs, oxygen concentrators, is mandatory. It is absolutely no longer relevant to massively reconfigure, but rather to continue to confine with variable geometry, on the scale of a locality, or of a city. This is so as not to lose control of the epidemic. Especially because we treat the sick better today. In addition, vulnerable people must be even more protected. The importance of mass screening will remain in place. Again, I emphasize that you have to be very educational. And this, in order to bring the citizen to overcome the psychological blockage, to slowly resume a social and professional life while keeping a high degree of vigilance. It is a period of psychological, social, professional recovery …
Health is not a luxury
Dr Amraoui signs: “the main lesson of this pandemic: health is not secondary or a luxury, but the essence of any public policy, allowing prosperity, as well as stability and security”. Can we be allowed not to ensure the overall overhaul of our health system? “No”, replies the deputy former vice-mayor of Fez. According to him, it is necessary to prepare for possible health crises, to train the necessary human resources, in order to allow an effective response to this type of threat, current or future, and to maintain essential health services. Because, the impact of this difficult episode will generate disturbances and consequences that will be felt for many years on the rest of the health services. One very positive fact today is that this virus has lost much of its virulence. “We have experienced the paralysis of service, ambulatory, hospital and community care services, disrupted vaccination program, delayed diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases, cancers, mental illnesses, dental care, rehabilitation services, among others… phenomena to be avoided while protecting us ”, concludes Dr Amraoui.
Interview by Youness SAAD ALAMI
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