The world of Tzu Chi June 2020 (Vol.123)

TZU CHI 123 17 The healthcare system is not the only bastion in defending against Covid-19. Surveying and monitoring the trajectory of the pandemic, raising awareness on epidemic prevention and providing assistance to individuals in home quarantine are beyond the capacity of healthcare institutions. Furthermore, the police force, fire and rescue personnel and volunteer-led organizations generally lack the expertise to perform these tasks. Therefore, a key consideration in future epidemic preparedness efforts is the capability of public healthcare systems to respond to possible scenarios based on the lessons gleaned from this pandemic. Moving forward, the addition of avenues for seeking medical attention to establish a more robust healthcare system, the decommercialization of healthcare services, the role of preventive medicine, healthcare awareness and public health services should merit a substantial investment of resources. Besides guarding against contagious diseases, emphasis should also be placed on the prevention of chronic conditions such as hypertension, cancer and obesity by improving overall well-being. The Covid-19 pandemic is a lesson in humility, alerting us to our vulnerability to a viral attack that has caught us unawares. The trail of destruction left behind by this highly infectious, mutating virus should have warned us by now of the heavy price to pay for our past negligence. The world is heading for a gradual recovery, as nations race against time to develop a Covid-19 vaccine – a time-consuming process. If we perceive that a vaccine or drug is the solution to the crisis, we are once again underestimating the potency of viruses. Influenza vaccines and drugs have long been invented, yet the flu continues to endanger the health and lives of many. Ali S. Khan, former Director of the Office of Public Health Preparedness and Response at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), once mentioned in an interview: “A disease anywhere is a disease everywhere.” He wrote in his book that the trajectory of a contagion in any given place is related to the local public health infrastructure. Moreover, public health systems no longer operate in isolation in our modern world of accessible air travel and increased risk of cross-border infections. Worldwide cooperation plays an important role in collective efforts to gather resources to safeguard the health of the global population. Recently, the “One Health” approach to public health has emerged, with the goal of achieving optimal health outcomes by recognizing the interconnection between people, animals, plants and their shared environment. Will the Covid-19 pandemic give rise to a public health revolution?Will nations be able towork together to forman epidemic prevention network? Before we seek definite answers to the questions above, perhaps we should take the first steps in effecting change by going back to the basics, starting with practising proper hand washing techniques and wearing a face mask when sick to avoid infecting others. Are We Ready for the New Normal?