Special Article
MUHAMMAD USMAN
THE deadly threat of Corona Virus is staring on us. God forbids, it has to yet visit us with its full grim consequences economically,morallyand socially.Feverishly situationcalls fora united response but our response is as of a divided house. The accusations, hedges and self-congratulatory boasts/claims have made inroads in our midst which unfortunately have always beenthe case evenin face of dire demands to the contrary for petty points scoring to gain self-serving mileage. PPP wants to lockdown Sindh province to keep viral threat at bay. Other provinces want partiallockdown. Imran Khan is primarily for selective approach and self-quarantine to guard against panic buying and protect impoverishedpeople fromdetrimental falloutwhichmay ensue following a total lockdown. Our government has done relatively better in comparison to other countries including most advanced countries where virus is wildly on rampage.Despitetheir big follies, people standbehindtheir governments becausethreatisimmediate and pressing. There is no time to fall apart. This is time to dig heals together to defeat Corona Virus, stalking their landmass indiscriminately however, it is futile to remind our self-seeking ruling elite about gravity of situation and the need to adopt a unified response. They want to use this precarious situation also to insulate themselves againsttheir colossal corruptmisdeeds under scrutiny onthe name of consensus. Leavethem aside if they do not see reason. Instead attention be focused on nation. It is the nation which could only see through us atrial of such stunning proportions. Itistime for governmentto getitsthinking clear,tie upitsloose ends and forge ahead with determination to rid country of emerging epidemic upheaval. People would stand by it. The delay in taking counter measures, could cause incalculable repercussions. A study shows that if China had implemented its control measures in epicentre, Wuhan a week earlier, it could have prevented 67% of all cases there. The implementing measures three weeks earlier, would have cut number of infections to five per cent of the total. Early detection and isolation is vital in reducing infected cases. Like delay, laxity in implementation is also equally disastrous.We did it at Taftan and invited Corona Virus to our alleys and streets by failing to properly test and quarantine thousands of pilgrims, arriving from Iran. They were packed together in unhygienic tents without appropriate medical facilities and access to clean bathrooms. Some people made premature exit while using crooked means. With such arrangements, one could only encounter self-delusion. In fact, this place became a nursery of Corona Virus. The sum and substance of Chinese action was isolating affected areas by clamping lockdown. They established command centre which made it easier for med authorities to gather data, redistribute resources, investigate potential cases and aggressive follow up on their contact history. They established big emergency hospitals. Resultantly, situation is no more alarming there. We could draw workable cues from their experience. More or less, we have locked down the country but given our environment, a fear exists that we may not be able to achieve same degree of isolation which China achieved. In the event of community spread, we cannot quarantine all people. Only way-out is staying indoors. Here comes element of self-quarantine.As a nation, we lack selfdiscipline until we see extreme danger. Unfortunately, people are not taking threat of Corona Virus seriously whereas, it is by no means hypothetical. It is real. Every household is vulnerable in extreme particularly, its elder members. A victim can pass virus to others before he gets its symptoms. This makes precautionary measures and social distancing even more imperative to protect oneself, own loved ones and other acquaintances.There is no medicine to treat or a vaccine to halt it. Besides, it involves one’s national and social obligations. It is a task at hand in which each one would count. Even an excellent healthcare system would found choked if a large number of victims approach there over short span of time. The government needs to launch a vigorous campaign imaginatively/aggressively to create awareness among people about these dire aspects. Media also owes this to the nation. The possibility of using club may also be kept in hand. The doctors and paramedic workers constitute first line of defence. They need to be essentially provided necessary protective kits to start with. The government also needs to ensure that supply chain remains open by preventing hoarding. It would check panic buying and price hike. The government must stay at path to provide relief to down-trodden people/daily wagers because they would be worst hit by the crisis. The wealthier people should also play their part to mitigate their sufferings. Early payment of Zakat may be a source as being suggested by Islamic Ideology council. On top of all this, we must invoke Allah’s forgiveness and help get rid of this calamity. Being head of the nation, Imran Khan should lead collective Dua. Sooner the better. — The writer, a retired Lt Col, is freelance columnist based in Islamabad. Email: usman5064@gmail.com
