There is so much finger-pointing and counter finger-pointing you
wonder what is going on. Could it be true that some people might be responsible for the spread and escalation of major epidemics and ultimately cause death through such sinister manoeuvres? If at all they were,
what could be the idea behind the escalation of such contagious and fatal epidemics as corona virus around the world? Why should someone promote research, if the assertions are
true, on viruses that have a high risk and possibility of spreading from
animals to humans? Have the so called scientists purportedly behind this sad
development turned into vultures whose major delight is in the demise of their
fellow human beings? Whether the above assertions are true or not, one thing we
all agree with is that the advent of the Corona virus pandemic has brought
untold suffering around the world. The pandemic has caught most nations, the
world over, off-guard and ill-prepared to contain its relentless onslaught.
Corona virus linked to bats
Whether the assertions are mere propaganda (conspiracy theories) or have
some truth in them, only parties responsible for the pandemic could know (if
at all they are there). Certain publications are insinuating that some entities
engaged in risky research on corona viruses might have triggered this pandemic.
Corona virus and gain-of-function research
The background to the above assertion is
the gain- of- function research on bat corona viruses that was funded by the
National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Diseases. The research was
conducted at the Wuhan Institute of virology.
Gain-of-function (GOF) research involves experimentation that aims or is expected to increase the transmissibility and/or virulence of pathogens. Such research,when conducted by responsible scientists, usually aims to improve understanding of disease causing agents, their interaction with human hosts, and/or their potential to cause pandemics. The ultimate objective of such research is to better inform public health and preparedness efforts and/or development of medical countermeasures. Despite these important potential benefits, GOF research (GOFR) can pose risks regarding biosecurity and biosafety. GOFR is a subset of “dual-use research”—i.e., research that can be used for both beneficial and malevolent purposes.
Containment measures
So much about the backdrop to the
Covid 19 pandemic! I am of the view that the aftermath of this outbreak deserves more urgent attention than its historical origin due to its inherent potential
to disrupt our social and economic life.
Of course the immediate impact of the pandemic is the spread of disease
and unfortunately death in some cases, but there are also long term impacts which include
various side effects of containment measures.
What has made the above scenario even worse is the
fact that even the well-meant containment measures seem to be contributing to
the problem somehow. This is more so when we consider the fact that people’s
livelihoods are threatened in profound ways in a bid to contain the spread of this menace.
Containment measures and disparities
Death by itself has a lot of negative implications
both at family and national level in that it may mean the loss of our loved
ones, our bread winner or indeed our most valuable resource who can hardly be
replaced. Though the pandemic may seem like a great leveller in that everyone
regardless of their status in life are treated at home (no more evacuation for
specialist treatment abroad) once they fall sick, yet it has widened the disparity between the ‘haves’
and ‘have-nots’. This becomes more apparent when we consider containment
measures like mobility restrictions, stay-at-home and lock downs, and their effect on people's livelihoods. It is those who rely on a daily income for survival who are affected the most.
Covid 19 and informal sector
An overwhelming majority of employed Zambians
(88.7%) work in the informal sector (Tassot et al., 2018:7). This means that most containment measures are
biased against a larger proportion of the Zambian work force. It is quite obvious that most informal workers do not have any kind of legal or social protection whatsoever and as such are more adversely affected by measures aimed at curbing the spread of the pandemic. For instance while the cost of living has risen, few informal
workers can earn a reasonable livelihood to adequately meet their daily needs
with the current restrictions in place. Moreover, most government interventions are naturally targeted at the formal sector since they are registered, well-established and recognized by the powers that be.
Response to covid 19
Recently the Zambian government announced fiscal measures intended to
reduce the impact of Covid 19 on the economy. Though the common people (mostly those in the informal sector and the unemployed) will ultimately benefit from these policy interventions due to multiplier effects, the immediate beneficiary is the formal sector as can be seen from the measures themselves. It
is yet to be seen what the newly introduced fiscal measures will do to relieve
the impact of the pandemic and what will be done to cushion people in the
informal sector. Piecemeal interventions like the distribution of food and
other necessities to the vulnerable have their own place in relief measures but
their impact is not long lasting. What are needed are measures whose impact is
sustainable and will be felt for the
long term.
The new normal
Following the announcement by the World Health Organization's special envoy for covid 19 that people have to learn to live with the pandemic and that the pandemic will be around for some time, some countries including Zambia are considering easing restrictions on mobility. This seems to be a plausible move considering the fact that most ordinary people, especially those in the informal sector, are economically disadvantaged by the current containment measures. However early warning and response systems have to be put in place to contain the spread of the pandemic.
Moreover, apart from adhering to various health guidelines, sensitization programs need to be continued or even scaled up to check a possible rise in new infections. With or without the pandemic, people have to continue working to earn a living or their plight and that of the economy will just worsen!
