To prevent the transmission of COVID-19, people should first be alert. They should fully abide by the health safety protocol issued by the government in consultation with health experts. On the other hand, political leaders and cadres should present themselves as role models in following the health safety protocol
Just when normal life was limping back to normal, cases of COVID-19 have surged all of a sudden. With political turmoil at its peak following the dissolution of the House of Representatives on December 20 last year, there were political gatherings and rallies participated in by thousands of people – party cadres and the general people alike. At the time, it was feared that COVID-19 cases would spike, but nothing of that sort happened.
Nepal has been facing the second wave of the coronavirus, supposedly associated with new variants, namely the B.1.617 (Indian home-grown) and B.1.1.7, a variant that has spread widely in Britain and in the United States.
The government has enforced prohibitory orders in most of the districts to prevent the transmission of the virus and hopes to build necessary health infrastructures during the interim period.
Although the nationwide lockdown during the first wave bought time, it had a negative impact on the economy, while hampering education and causing social and psychological trauma.
Extensive mass campaigns were carried out motivating people to wear masks, practise social distancing, and avoid close and large gatherings.
The second wave is mainly due to newer, more contagious variants of the virus, which is resulting in rapid transmission.
There could be more variants of concern, both imported and indigenous.
Shortness of breath is the most common clinical feature among symptomatic patients in the second wave, needing very high supplemental oxygen.
Vaccination is the most effective way to fight the virus.
But a large majority in low-income countries have no access to vaccines although many rich nations continue stockpiling them in excess of their requirements.
At a time when Nepal and other countries are in urgent need of vaccines, Indian Prime Minister has suspended exports of AstraZeneca vaccines produced by the Serum Institute of India. Though shocking, this decision is hardly surprising given the country's difficulties.
It is reported that there is growing inequity in the inoculation of people on the basis of where they live.
One in four people from high-income countries is reported to have got the COVID-19 jab as against one in over 500 people in poorer countries. Vaccine rollout is an issue of life and death. Some have even argued that vaccination is a universal human right.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is fretting at this tendency of a handful of rich countries to procure vaccines for their population at the cost of poorer countries. This may also hamper the COVAX programme, which aims at ensuring fair distribution of vaccines to 92 poorer countries around the world.
However, over 170 countries, the UK and China included, support the COVAX programme, which was established in April 2020 under the initiative of the WHO to ensure that every country, rich or poor, had access to vaccines.
The WHO wants countries having excess vaccines to share them with other countries. The thing is unless everybody is inoculated against COVID-19, nobody will be safe. So when poorer countries are left behind in the inoculation drive, the disease cannot be defeated. Undisputedly, no one is safe until everyone is safe. So countries around the world should emphasise universal access to vaccines.
In 2021, China has become the world's largest producer of vaccines. It is the only country which has been able to completely contain COVID-19 outbreaks at home, vaccinate its own population rapidly and also export vaccines to poorer countries all at once.
We cannot wait for funds to procure vaccines because it will only delay inoculation and increase our risks. In November last year, the cabinet had estimated that Rs48 billion would be required to inoculate 52 percent of the population.
A decision was also made to procure coronavirus vaccines that have received emergency approval and administer them to people free of cost based on priority, with those at risk getting vaccinated first.
The Oli government, which has been accused of corruption and moral bankruptcy in handling the pandemic, has to get the last lap of the fight against COVID-19 right. There is an urgent need for clarity and transparency regarding the government's procurement of vaccines and the decision-making process of the cabinet.
The country has witnessed the consequences of bad decisions, one after another, since the pandemic's onset till now.
But the government cannot afford to make any more mistakes and continue to evade its primary obligation to the sovereign citizens.
Even if the vaccine doesn't provide full protection, it will still provide partial protection, meaning some people may be protected and others, who do get infected even after being vaccinated, would have a less severe case.
To prevent the transmission of COVID-19, people should first be alert. They should fully abide by the health safety protocol issued by the government in consultation with health experts. On the other hand, political leaders and cadres should present themselves as role models in following the health safety protocol.
Those who do not follow the protocol may turn out to be super-spreaders.
The government should take necessary measures to stop, or at least mitigate, the cross-border movement of people from India to Nepal.
In view of the surge in COVID-19 cases in recent times, the government should keep all government and private health facilities with critical care, medicines and oxygen on standby.
Finally, the good news is that the rate of successful treatment in the country is similar to any of the new variants. It will be necessary to keep maintaining physical distancing, proper use of masks, hand hygiene, and isolation and quarantine, as well as mass vaccinations to contain the spread of the virus and protect humanity.
Budhathoky is Chief, Eye, ENT and Oral Health, MOHP
A version of this article appears in the print on May 18, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.
