Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed :
The World Health Organisation has termed the novel Coronavirus as a global emergency, which has before, during, and after dynamics. The pre-emergency time is decision-making and execution phase and is not relevant in Bangladesh as we are now facing the emergency. As the indomitable Coronavirus continues its reign over the world, the lifestyle of mankind has changed drastically. People have been maintaining social distancing, started working from home, finding time to engage more with the family, and slowing down on business activities. This change in lifestyle will have a lasting effect even in the post Covid-19 world. The fear in people’s mind, the time they have now to themselves, the pause in the rat-race will create a different world for the generations of the future.
The post-emergency period will depend on our governance performance in this emergency time. The country is a champion in disaster management although this health emergency provides for a new learning pad and a lifelong experience for us, the majority of Bangladeshis born after the birth of the country in 1971. As the virus is contagious and no medicine is available to cure the disease that the virus causes, social distancing is the only way to head off the life-threatening virus. The concern is that people are somewhat wary of maintaining the social distancing protocol to avoid transmission despite the government’s maximum efforts. Do they not care much about their life? The questions remind me of the challenge for the Covid-19 governance and the importance of a participatory approach – especially three major points: (i) institutional quarantine or isolation for Bangladeshis returning from abroad, (ii) health care system, (iii) home isolation, quarantine, or stay-at-home approach to avoid any community transmission.
Decision and execution strategies may be revised depending on field-level feedbacks of different professional groups such as health services providers, law enforcement agencies, army, and other service providers to reduce the infection and make people’s life normal in terms of health care and access to food. Definitely, we are encountering new experiences every day and this will be helpful in reviewing our understanding of vertical and horizontal governance about institution, participation, research, development, environment and humanity in the context of before, during, and after coronavirus emergency perspectives.
In Bangladesh, the topic is under such scrutiny that the authorities simply cannot ignore it. The honourable Prime Minister recently announced that people would not be left to starve. The current ruling party prides itself as a people’s party. It is believe that this will be reflected in the work of the government.
First and foremost the government must ensure that the poor do not suffer from starvation. We must identify their households and ensure that the food relief is distributed at their doorsteps. Asking them to come out of their homes and queue for food will make it difficult to maintain social distancing. Slum areas of various cities should be targeted first for such work. The poverty mapping that has been done will further help us identify the areas where aid is crucial. Next, there are certain people who may not need relief in the form of food. These individuals are slightly above the poverty line and are used to earning their own means of living. What they require now is monetary assistance to tide over the difficult period, for example, to pay their rents.
The current situation demands more allocation for addressing the pandemic immediately. Resource allocation should be increased in a focused and targeted way. New financial channels from foreign sources to support health-related actions should be mobilized. These should include a flexible procurement system for medical supplies. The government’s move to extend tax rebate on imports of all essential medical supplies required for confronting the Covid-19 challenge is commendable. Third, given the limited number of hospitals, necessary make shift healthcare facilities should be arranged at district and upazila levels. Of course, these should be adequately equipped for treatment and health support.
All medical colleges, nursing institutions and other health establishments and voluntary organizations should be mobilized to extend their support towards addressing the Covid-19 emergency. However, they should be adequately provided with personal protective equipment (PPE). It may be emphasized here that health professionals are equally vulnerable to Covid-19. Italy is a case in point, where the highest number of doctors died compared to other countries due to the shortage of essential medical supplies and equipment.
With the economic system that is currently prevalent across the globe, individuals have to manage their own livelihoods. Despite that, responsibilities of the government cannot be denied altogether. Even in countries known as the bastions of capitalism, the respective governments are coming forward to help the citizens and businesses. Although we should have taken some immediate steps earlier, despite being late, the government has made some announcements.
Last but not least, there are the owners of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) whose businesses are bearing the brunt of the shutdown. We can assist them by providing loans with flexible repayment options. Also the SMEs should be given an opportunity to refinance their loans. Moratorium on loan repayments for six months may prove beneficial as well. Even though our agricultural sector has not taken any major blows yet, we cannot overlook the matter as the markets for crops, vegetables, fruits, eggs, milk, etc. have been affected.
Government must govern, judiciously, wisely, for the greater good of all, eschewing the interests of vested-interest groups, in order to enable all to survive in society. Government must at the same time endeavor to protect and reshape contractual obligations between buyer and seller in the global marketplace-which may appear daunting at first sight, but the vulnerability of all countries and governments to the socioeconomic impacts of this pandemic are by now quite starkly evident and felt everywhere. We all have to help and enable each other to survive, whether within the domestic and national sphere, or between peoples in the region, across regions or across the globe.
(Dr. Forqan Uddin Ahmed, former DDG of Bangladesh Ansar & VDP, writer, columnist and researcher)
