While the whole world is in shock we as Pakistanis being part of the 3rd world are fundamentally not prepared to tackle the spread of this pandemic due to myriad problems. Hopelessness looms all over the globe and the 3rd world is still making tenuous preparations to deal with the modern-day menace.
Kicking off from Wuhan in mainland China the Covid-19 has claimed several thousand lives up until today and the count is still on. Swiftly constructed make-shift hospitals like the ones in China coupled with global health advisories and travel bans have been effective steps so far. People in the West have started staying at home, stacking up household items while supplies are running out in major cities. All that is a natural outcome of fear but what about the future especially in Pakistan? Are we ready to tackle the situation or is it going to grab us by the throat?
Pakistan's record in fighting such situations is not very good due to poor health service conditions and weak political leadership. Although our govt has taken some crucial steps which have been lauded by World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative, Dr Palitha Gunarathna Mahipala, noting that the country had come up "with one of the world’s best National Response Program against the virus", there is still a lot more to be done. The govt's delay in announcing a national health emergency and spiritual folks of Pakistan calling for divine help instead of observing health-care are two facets of the problem where the govt is somehow flexing its muscles while masses are not too bothered about the spreading virus.
At last waking up to the gravity of the issue, today in a high level meeting the govt decided to take some actions ranging from sealing of western border to closure of educational institutes and banquet halls, banning crowds from religious congregations and attending PSL matches including various other steps. The steps are although a bit late in timeframe but better than never. WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, has listed four action points to deal with the outbreak.
- Prepare and be ready: Every person must know the signs and symptoms and how to protect themselves and others. Every health worker should be able to recognize this disease, provide care and know what to do with their patients. Every health facility should be ready to cope with large numbers of patients and ensure the safety of staff and patients.
- Detect, protect and treat: You can’t fight a virus if you don’t know where it is. Find, isolate, test and treat every case, to break the chains of transmission. Every case we find and treat limits the expansion of the disease.
- Reduce transmission: Do not just let this fire burn. Isolate the sick and quarantine their contacts. In addition, measures that increase social distancing such as cancelling sporting events may help to reduce transmission. These measures, of course, should be based on local context and risk assessment, and should be time-limited. Even if you cannot stop transmission, you can slow it down and save lives.
- Innovate and learn: This is a new virus and a new situation. We’re all learning, and we must all find new ways to prevent infections, save lives, and minimise impact. All countries have lessons to share.
We Pakistanis have to look at the issues as per the demands of the situation. There are around thirty reported cases of Covid-19 and many more may be awaiting to be reported, but the population has to take a hardline approach on this pandemic. We need to look through the prism of reality both at personal and collective levels and must take care of our healths and those of the undeserved for a healthy society. Following the necessary precautionary measures and keeping the environment cleaner will make Pakistan a safer place for us all.
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