WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24, 2024
Samir Nazareth
The story of the proliferation of SARS-CoV-2, a mouthful of a name for the virus, is the story of leadership. In the early days of the virus, the world revelled in a false sense of security spending time on displaying shock and awe as the Chinese grappled with SARS-CoV-2. The Hubei Governor’s reticence to take cognisance of the threat, the response to Dr Li Wenliang warnings, the almost draconian methods employed to isolate people and finally the Chinese government’s unwillingness to share details of the virus were class acts on leadership failing.
Like the virus, leadership failures began to spread across the world. In Hong Kong, Carrie Lam was reluctant to seal the border with China to prevent the spread of the disease. It was a way to play down the threat emanating from China and maintain China’s image. Besides Hong Kong’s leadership wanting to keep the Chinese happy, there was another set unwilling to recognise the enormity of the problem heading their way.
Boris Johnson and his team cooked up the idea of herd immunity to deal with SARS-CoV-2. With the aim of keeping the country open for business, the British government and their advisors hoped to infect 60 per cent of the population to develop national immunity. Their hair-brained scheme went against the advice of experts and the implicit injustice of it.
President Donald Trump was focussed on his ratings and the economy falling sick. He railed against those cautioning about the impending health crisis and the administration’s unpreparedness. The first case was detected in America on January 19, 2020, the same day as South Korea. However, the two countries diverged from there. While South Korea went on a war footing to detect and test, the American government protected their citizens with a false sense of security. Unfortunately, the administration believed their own disinformation.
In India, the first case of SARS-CoV-2 was detected on January 3. It would be unfair to say the Indian government was unaware of the threat the virus posed. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a Travel Advisory on January 17 asking travellers to China to take suitable precautions. The 21 Travel Advisories issued by this government till March 20 paint a grim picture of the viruses’ advance. The government carried out sorties to evacuate citizens from China and Iran. As the contagion spread globally, PM Modi announced a special SARS-CoV-2 economic task force on March 19 to deal with the economic fallout of the virus. The potential health and human tragedy waiting in the wings was overlooked.
As India progressed from banging thalis to lighting candles and showering petals on hospitals, PM Modi held video conferences with Indian sportspeople, international leaders, and Chief Ministers. The PM presciently held a video conference with editors and owners of major news outlets telling them to publish positive stories on his administration’s handling of the COVID crisis.
The US and UK are grappling with staggering numbers of infected, while India is staggering in the ignorance of the actual numbers infected. Dr Raman R Gangakhedkar, head of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases at the Indian Council for Medical Research (ICMR), has gone on record to say they are not actively testing because the potential number of positive cases would overwhelm India’s medical resources.
One outcome of this leadership in the US, UK and India has been the paucity of protective gear for the medical fraternity, the lack of testing kits, the unavailability of medical equipment to treat the infected. Worse still, is the impact of their decisions on people.
PM Modi’s declaration that India salute, with salutary noise, those keeping the country safe and healthy as part of the Janata curfew resulted in mass gatherings. His 8pm decision for a 21-day lockdown that came into force four hours later, resulted in an exodus of millions of migrant workers from cities who suddenly found themselves jobless and therefore without food and a roof. Now as migrant labourers walk, or pay for their rail fare, home the threat of infection is more than ever. The humanitarian and health nightmare continues.
Modi apologised for the ‘harsh measures’, in his recent Mann Ki Baat, confusing ‘harsh measures’ with lack of foresight and planning.
What is notable is the interpretation of these leaders’ announcements by their followers. In Modi’s case, his appeal for noise on March 22 and candles being lit for nine minutes at 9pm on April 5 was viewed through Hindu beliefs and nationalism. It therefore puts large swathes of the population at risk. The national call for herd mentality ensures the government remains unaccountable. The spotlight is deflected from the human tragedy, lack of testing, absence of medical and safety supplies and the haphazard implementation of relief measures. However, it pumps citizens with a façade of collective spirit sorely missed in the recent Delhi riots.
The US President’s unhinged messages in response to sane counsel puts people at risk. His hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin-as-a-cure tweet and claim about bleach endangers Americans. Dr Fauci, a member of the President’s task force on Corona, has been provided 24x7 security because some Americans have not appreciated his statements going against those of Trump’s. Further, Trump’s earlier unqualified declaration about easing measures by Easter, his petulant unwillingness to wear a protective mask only aids the progress of the virus and his support for those protesting the lockdown only flames the SARS-CoV-2 fire.
Modi began his earlier pre-recorded video message by stating the world was emulating his suggestion of acknowledging frontliners. His May 12 address dwelt on India’s greatness. There was no mention about the plight of migrants. Trump has been concerned about his FaceBook numbers, he presented a powerpoint about his ‘great’ work managing the virus. It seems the virus has provided our leaders another platform to perform on and to promote their beliefs.
Aren’t We the People being pied pipered by false promises, fake remedies, and grand edicts?
(Samir Nazareth is an author and writes on socio-economic and environmental issues)
