This volume interrogates global health and especially the scourge of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the role that science has played in mitigating the human experiences of pandemics and health over the centuries. Science, and the scientific method, has always been at the forefront of the human attempt at undermining the virulent consequences of sicknesses and diseases. However, the scientific image of humans in the world is founded on the presumption of possessing the complete understanding about humans and their physiological and psychological frameworks. This volume challenges this scientific assumption. Global health denotes the complex and cumulative health profile of humanity that involves not only the framework of scientific researches and practices that investigates and seeks to improve the health of all people on the globe, but also the range of humanistic issues - economic, cultural, social, ideological - that constitute the sources of inequities and threat to the achievement of a positive global health profile. This volume balances the argument that diseases and pandemics are human problems that demand both scientific and humanistic interventions.
Author(s): Francis Egbokhare, Adeshina Afolayan
Publisher: Palgrave Macmillan
Year: 2023
Language: English
Pages: 497
City: Cham
Preface and Acknowledgements
Contents
Notes on Contributors
List of Figures
1: Introduction: Humanity and Disease Discourse
References
Part I: Humanistic Understanding of Disease
2: Toward a Fuller Understanding of the Enigma of Health
The Strange Art of Healing
From Mathesis to Anamnesis
Science, Health Science, and the Humanities
Conclusions
References
3: Ubuntu and COVID-19: A Philosophical Reflection
Introduction: The Need for a Philosophical Intervention
Ubuntu
COVID-19: A Brief Summary
Analyses
Conclusion
References
4: Limits of Science-Based Approaches in Global Health: Sociocultural and Moral Lessons from Ebola and COVID-19
Introduction
Advances in Science and Biomedicine Since the Spanish Flu
Limits of Science-Based Approaches
Sufficiency Theory and Global Health Emergencies
Need for Humanities-Based Approaches
Sample Humanities Approaches to Complement Science
Community Engagement
Addressing Moral Experiences of Communities
Conclusion: Toward a Harmonized Science and Humanities Approach
References
5: The Vaccination Mandate Debate Revisited
Introductory Remarks
The Vaccination Mandate Debate
Revisiting the Vaccination Mandate Debate
Concluding Remarks
References
Part II: Critical Framing of the Pandemic in Africa
6: An African Perspective on the Ethics and Politics of Foreign Medical Aid in a Pandemic
Introduction
The Virus: From Outbreak to Pandemic
The Context of Philanthropy in China
China and the Politics of Pandemic Philanthropy
Healthcare in Nigeria and the Dearth of Infrastructures
Toward an African Moral Theory of Pandemic Philanthropy
Conclusion
References
7: Disease Discourses, African Knowledge Systems, and COVID-19 in Senegal
Introduction
Field Context: Geography of Health and Resources in Senegal
Rapid Response Systems and Repurposing Community Teams
Young Demographic and Care for Elderly
Widespread Support for Social Distancing
Pilgrimage to Touba in 2020
Environmental Conditions
Moving Forward
Conclusion
References
8: Ẹnulẹbọ: Ethical Imperative of Yorùbá Thought on Eating for COVID-19-Related Crises
Introduction
The Goat as a Scapegoat: COVID-19 and the Phenomenon of Eating
Ẹnulẹbọ: “Eating” in Yorùbá Thought
Imperative of Yorùbá Thought of Eating for COVID-19 Crisis
Concluding Remarks
References
9: Epidemiology and an Epistemic Evaluation of the Management of COVID-19 in Nigeria
Introduction
COVID-19 as a Global Pandemic
COVID-19 as an Epidemiological Crisis
COVID-19 as an Epistemological Crisis
Management of COVID-19 in Nigeria: Mirroring the Crises in Context
Epistemic Evaluation of COVID-19 in Nigeria
A Management Paradigm for COVID-19 in Nigeria
Conclusion
References
10: Borders, Boundaries, and Identities: Navigating the Barriers to Solidarity and Cohesion in a Pandemic
Introduction and Background
Coronavirus: Emergence and Impact
Coronavirus and the Manifestation of Differences within States
The COVID-19 Pandemic and the Strains on Global Solidarity
The Concept of Solidarity
Managing the COVID-19 Pandemic: The Case for an Ethics of Solidarity
Conclusion
References
11: Discourses of the Wandering Almajiri Child as Representation of the (Post-)COVID Generation
Introduction
Itinerant Scholarship in Local Muslim Theology
Ambiguous Adventure and the Fictional World of Almajirai
COVID-19 Pandemic and the Wandering Almajiri Child
Almajirai as Vectors and Super-spreaders
Supporting Almajirai in the Pandemic Expulsion Aftermath
Critical Considerations
Almajiri and the “National Question” in Focus
Way Forward
Concluding Remarks
References
12: Quarantining the Holy Spirit: Africa and the Pentecostal Economy of COVID-19 Pandemic
Introduction
Lockdown and the Quarantining of the Holy Spirit
COVID-19 and Spiritual Inoculation
COVID-19 Pandemic and the Power of the Holy Spirit
Salvation, Starvation and Suffering
COVID-19 Pandemic and Pentecostal Prophetic Chaos
Conclusion
References
13: On Pandemic Planning and the Frontline Workers in Nigeria
Introduction
On Pandemics and Pandemic Planning: A Historical Overview
Pandemic Planning and the Nigeria Pandemic Response Plan
The NPIPRP and the Nigeria Health Workers
Lessons to Learn: Pandemic Planning and the Nigeria Health Workers
Conclusion
References
14: Dialogism and Polyphony in the Interpretations of COVID-19 Discourse in Zimbabwe
Introduction
Dialogic Theory and the Monologic Sense of Truth in COVID-19 Pandemic Discourse
Polyphonic Theory and the Plurality of Consciousnesses
Linguistic Landscape, Languaging and Semantics of Metaphorising in COVID-19 Discourse
Religious Conceptualisation of the Pandemic in Zimbabwe
Christian Perspective
Islamic Perspective
African Traditional Religious Perspective
Reflections
Conclusion
References
Part III: Representing COVID-19
15: Cartooning COVID-19 on Facebook
Introduction
Asukwo on the Social Media Stage
Covid Cartoons and Critical Infrastructure
The Liberty to Appear in Public
Conclusion
References
16: “It’s in Your Hands”: Communicating a Pandemic to a Disengaged Public
Theorising Disengagement: Language, Culture and Communication
Partnership for Communication and Engagement: Akin Fadeyi Foundation
“It’s in Your Hands”: The Dynamics of Engaging the Public
Denial
Hygiene
Social Distancing
Misinformation
Panic Buying
Believe It or Not
Analysis
Conclusion
References
17: Musical Representations of COVID-19 on Social Media Among Young People in Nigeria
Introduction
Music-Making, Social Media and COVID-19
Musical Representation of COVID-19
Public Health Awareness Representation
Religious/Spiritual Representation
Sociopolitical Representation
Conclusion
References
Online Discography
18: COVID-19, Food and Freedom to Worship: An Analytic Approach to Nigeria’s Religioscape
Introduction
Conceptualizing Food and Freedom
Theology of Food and Freedom
Secularity in Nigeria’s Religioscape
The Lockdown, Food, Worship and Secularity
References
19: Analysis of COVID-19 Risk Communication and Community Engagement on Social Media in Nigeria
Introduction
Statement of the Problem
Literature Review
Methodology
Results
Analysis
Research Question 1: To What Extent Do the Selected Messages Present Salient Issues on COVID-19, Drawn from the Health Belief Model and Agenda Setting Theory?
Research Question 2: What Appeals Are Used in the Selected Messages for the Study?
Conclusion
References
20: COVID-19 (Post)Proverbials: Twisting the Word Against the Virus
Preamble: Tracing the Virus
Breaking the Outbreak
In Search of the Deviant Text
The Postproverbial Order
COVID-19 Postproverbials: Interpreting the Twisted Word
On Lockdown
On Social Distancing
On Spread and Awareness
On Invocation
On Hygiene
On Morbidity
Values of the Postproverbials
Conclusion
References
Index
