Historicism of Pandemics: A Conduit for Societal Preparedness from Future Outbreaks in East Africa

Abstract

This project presents historicism as a paradigm shift to the study of pandemics. Historicism will be employed to explain the existence of pandemics, practices, the socio-cultural and economic impact they had on the East African communities. For centuries, pandemics have had replete occurrences in human history. Examples of these pandemics globally include the Smallpox epidemic of 1520 AD which originated in Mexico and had a devastating impact on the indigenous population. Another pandemic is the Bubonic Plague (Black Death), which occurred in the 14th century, was one of the deadliest pandemics in history. Historicism therefore emphasizes the importance of history and seeks to understand the development and evolution of ideas, beliefs, institutions, and artistic practices by examining their historical context. As such, historicism in this context can also refer to a reliance on historical precedents in the practice of pandemic control, medical advancements and surveillance. This research through historicism will attempt to trace the origins of pandemics and identify the factors that contributed to their emergence. It will also examine societal responses, patterns, trends and impacts in the occurrences of pandemics in East Africa. The study will focus on the East African countries such as, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, S. Sudan, Sudan and Rwanda. This research will give insights into not only the history but also the adaptations and strategies employed by various East African communities, either to curb or control the effects of these pandemics using both conventional and non-conventional knowledge. The study targets local or indigenous populations, educationists, policy makers, and stake holders at both the communal and national levels. Findings will be published in peer-reviewed journals and sensitization workshops and seminars conducted to draw more information and hold policy briefs with stake holders.