We cannot afford to be complacent while dealing with the spread of COVID -19. Preparedness allows a health system to take pro-active steps to mitigate or lessen the adverse impacts of an outbreak and to be in control without being overwhelmed. COVID – 19 has given us an opportunity to test our system and build resilience for the future. Preparing for the worst case scenario will hold us in good stead. Even if the disease does not reach epidemic status in India, we must continue to develop and maintain infrastructure to respond to new novel infectious agents capable of rapid spread. India which has a very fragile and fragmented health system needs to be ready to mount a co-ordinate, coherent and sustained response.
The scale of popularity of the Caronavirus far surpasses the fame of all the politicians and statesmen put together. It is a name which is on the tip of every person in the world and uttered with great awe and trepidation by every nationality and people throughout the globe. This is a moment when every Indian should open his/her eyes and look around with utmost commitment to our nation’s future. Everything possible should be done to safeguard the future of humanity. Adhering to the old adage “Prevention is better than Cure” – stopping the virus from spreading is very important. We do not have control over everything that happens in our lives. But we do have control over how we choose to respond. The Coronavirus continues to spread worldwide with new cases propping up daily.
In recent times world leaders were on the same page and single mindedly denounced terrorism declaring it a threat to peace and progress of the world. But suddenly the primacy of the global agenda is to combat the raging and relentless guerilla like attacks by COVID – 19.
The declaration of a pandemic is a call for responsibility and solidarity as nations and people unite. We need to exercise abundant caution for containing this disease. It is a time for us to say no to ‘Panic’ and yes to ‘Precaution’. As the corona virus scare continues to tighten its grip over India, most states have gone into a virtual shut-down. The very word COVID –19 strikes an invidious and incalculable terror along with anguish as the pandemic continues its march. Despite efforts, there does not seem to be much headway in slowing the spread. Several parts of the world have come to a grinding halt, with the spread of this virus.
What kind of arrangements have governments and their administrations made for the people at large who live hand to mouth and one day at a time. We all need to ponder before we are carried away by the pontifications of our rulers. A healthy democracy depends on the health care of its people. If they are cared for, they will care for their country and the democracy. A lesson from the pandemic is how containing an outbreak is dependent on quick and resilient public health responses. On the heels of the outbreak of COVID-19 and the enormity of deaths which has preceded by those affected in geometrical proportions, state governments throughout the world are in a state of panic. Many governments have pressed the panic button with measures of shut down, curfews and severe restrictions such as quarantine. All this has affected the lives of millions of people.
Speaking plainly panic is a reaction of the unprepared. For years we have neglected in investing in sound medicare and health facilities. The health and hygiene infrastructure has been relegated to the dustbin budget after budget. The lady from Agra who was quarantined had to run away/flee from the hospital because of unhygienic toilets. This is an apt representation of the consequences of meager health spending and lack of motivation from health care institutions to strengthen public health care infrastructure. The outbreak of COVID-19 has created an unprecedented situation around the world. Humankind is no stranger to calamitous outbreaks of diseases. However, this is the first viral outbreak of this nature and scale in our lifetime. Nature seems to be reminding us that we need to acknowledge with humility, our quintessential equality and interdependence. Equality maybe a factor less apparent, but nature tells us that we are all equal. This new virus strikes beyond man-made distinctions of religion, race and region. We suddenly realize that in the face of a grave mortal threat like the present one, we have but one identity – we are human beings.
“Vasudhaiva Kutumbbakam”, which means the whole world is but a family. Today in this present global crisis we realize how deeply each of us is connected with everybody else. We are as safe as we take care of the safety of others, not only human beings but also of plants and animals. In the face of an extraordinary crisis most people tend to be selfish. But this crisis has forced us to think of the well being of the least of our brothers and sisters. This is a lesson that has come to us at a heavy price. This hour of crisis may also be used as an hour of reflection. The ramifications of the pandemic are beyond our comprehension. An economic tsunami has hit the globe with full force, throwing millions out of work by the day. Unlike a health crisis, it is not class neutral, but hurts people who are poor with limited or no resources the most. It is a fact that the pandemic has wrecked havoc all over the world. Over a billion people are already confined to their homes around the world so as to contain the fast spreading outbreak by imposing unprecedented lock down measures, shutting down all business and sealing borders. The pandemic has sparked fears of an economic meltdown. The tourism industry was the first to be hit in Goa.
(The writer is a social scientist and practicing criminal lawyer}.
