Responding to Global Health Crises
The Sun Also Rises
How Global Public Health Crises Like Covid-19 Threaten the Worst, Yet Will Bring out Humanity’s Best
Ecclesiastes 1:5 “The sun also rises, and the sun goes down, And hastens to the place where it arose.”
Novel CoronaVirus’ current impact is stunning. When its full force hits countries in the Global South, with weaker health systems and fewer available medical or economic resources to fight it, the devastation could be unimaginable.
Already, according to a New York Times report, “the coronavirus has wiped out global gains that took two decades to achieve, leaving an estimated two billion people at risk of abject poverty.”
Rising to the Covid challenge will be especially daunting if its impacts indeed outstrip those of other current or recent public health threats, including:
HIV/Aids.
Ebola.
Air pollution.
SARS.
The Opioid crisis.
Malaria.
Tuberculosis.
Their handles alone are enough to conjure images of untold human suffering and unspeakable tragedy.
Compounding these mostly ongoing physical health crises are mental health issues. Spiking numbers of people struggling with depression, anxiety and other disorders hold the ever-present risk of suicide. Social distancing, job losses, and other disruptions Covid brings, is likely to inflame these issues.
At 342,000 and counting, Covid19's death toll already vastly exceeds outbreaks of SARS, H1N1, and Ebola combined.
UN figures indicate 3.5 billion are affected by global health disparities:
- At least half of the world’s 7.3 billion people lack essential health services
- In 2010, almost 100 million people were pushed into extreme poverty because they had to pay for health services out of their own pockets
Such health inequities will prove disastrous with Covid19’s eruption in impoverished nations.
And yet, we have encountered global health crises before. As a whole, we’ve emerged stronger, with new research and surveillance capacities, medicines and vaccines, high-tech innovations and low-cost solutions, that each day are saving lives and improving health around the planet.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, global public health advances have included major reductions in child mortality, along with reduced malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/Aids-related deaths.
Neglected tropical disease eradication efforts have likewise made great strides.
Since the Lancet Commission on Global Surgery in 2015, there has been increased focus on global surgery, with National Surgical plans being devised in multiple countries. Contrary to popular belief, essential surgical procedures have become a highly cost-effective means of saving lives.
With the Covid19 pandemic accelerating towards Lower and Middle Income Countries, this moment requires a movement. A movement of justice and solidarity, of equality and dignity, of creativity and artistry.
It’s time to raise awareness and awaken nations on public health disparities — and their toll on all of us.
It’s time to advocate for innovative solutions, enhanced local capacities, and strategic investment in places of greatest need.
The good news is that people of good will are rising up.
All over the planet, first responders and health care workers are donning masks and gloves for endless shifts to save patients from the virus.
Others have heroically yet tragically served without access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE’s), risking, even losing, their lives in the line of duty.
We’ve seen businesses shift production lines from consumer goods to items to vital health and safety gear. Grocery, delivery and other essential service workers have kept food on our tables and supplies in our cupboards.
Researchers have kicked into high gear to scour for a cure.
Humanitarian organizations like World Vision, and child-development organizations like Compassion, where I serve, are working to lessen the impact of Tsunami-like waves hurling towards children in harm’s way.
Even now, NGO workers, faith and community leaders are stepping in to deliver hygiene education, food and other provisions to families in dire straits.
We’ve seen people within Lower and Middle Income Countries (LMIC’s) rising with creativity and care, innovating approaches and adapting routines to protect and serve their own communities. Community health workers and hygiene educators are shifting location-based programs to mobile, last-mile response.
This shows up as:
Teams safely delivering household parcels to families lacking work, or freedom of movement to shop in the market, or get to distribution centres;
Hand sanitizers and hygiene education provided door-to-door; and
Textile graduates shifting from making clothing to sewing protective masks, otherwise unavailable in remote locations.
In the face of rising viral tides, let’s gather inspiration from these bold and brave souls. Let’s keep sparking hope. Keep pressing forward as we are able.
The impact of Covid-19 has been felt by us all. It has sought to isolate and devastate us. And while we have been rocked by its reach, for those of us still standing, an important call resounds.
Considering the vulnerability of children in less advantaged countries and communities, there’s a need to rise to the occasion with all in our power.
Our common humanity impels us to respond to those most imperilled now.
It may be giving a hand to elderly neighbours across the street with household supplies or outdoor tasks.
It may entail sitting at the feet of elders in our First Nations communities, where water sources are often compromised, or health care services are limited. To learn ways of serving, working alongside or remedying broken systems together that might move towards improved health outcomes.
It may be providing an ear to a colleague who has lost a loved one to Covid, without the usual supports to grieve, or chipping in to help a cousin struggling with the strain of isolation or job loss.
It may be calling attention to the rising challenges being faced by those in the Global South, volunteering with or making a financial contribution to a charity that is serving with dignity, effectiveness and care.
Whatever winds you might block amidst COVID’s storms, rise to accompany others walking on, with bright faith, strengthening hope, and uplifting love.
Song lyrics my friends and I are working on, as we contemplate these storms:
Who knows what sorrows there’ll be
Who knows what troubles we’ll see
But I know that through it all
You still hold the cosmos and me
So stay strong,
Take heart,
Be of good courage,
And see what brightness
Heaven will bring
To this tear stained earth.
As we take heart, let’s rise to confront these storm systems as a shelter for those most in harm’s way.
To make a contribution to Compassion International’s COVID-19 Disaster Relief Fund: https://www.compassion.com/ In Canada: www.compassion.ca
Jamie McIntosh is a speaker, writer & executive leader in the international humanitarian, development, global surgery & human rights arenas. He holds a Masters degree in International Human Rights Law from Oxford University. To connect with his reflections in poetry & prose: LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram
