“Learning from past mistakes” is a term often used by politicians, policy-planners, and of late, scientists.
Those who use it do so to appease public outrage and in a way, justify wrong decisions. They choose it to lace future decisions that may or may not shape the next phase of decision-making. Some of these decisions have led to countless civilians losing their lives over geo-political “strategic” initiatives.
Money is always available to fund senseless wars. It’s in short supply in the case of rebuilding ruins and taking care of orphans and those that have lost livelihoods. It gets worse when outstanding issues between countries end up providing legitimacy to illegal governments. That’s when democracy gets thrown to the dogs.
That dogs -- stray or otherwise -- shouldn’t be put to sleep or removed from a city is emphasized by activists, and they prevail over saner minds.
The new order will have to be about reducing interdependence, except for absolutely essential items. The tragi-comedy over vaccines is a moot question. After the world’s health bodies scrambling to approve them, and reassuring us of efficacy and efficiency, we are told that newer strains require mixing of them.
And what, pray, happens to those that have gotten or continue to get their jabs? European nations have decided not to vaccinate the elderly, most vulnerable group though they were supposed to have been the first in the row. Hungary, craving for vaccines, has to all purposes rejected Bangladesh’s offer of vaccines that we badly need ourselves.
It would appear that the heart-wrenching decisions that doctors and nurses had to take during pandemic peaks in prioritizing ventilator cases is happening again. Buffeted by decisions that will haunt health workers forever, they are having to repeat the nightmare. Someone, somewhere has forgotten that the longer they remain exposed, the more dangerous it is. Or maybe, senior citizens don’t have a place in the new world order.
The insane hurry to come out with a counter to the oft-mutating disease is heading to an abysmal failure. No one will own up to it. Not authorities, or the WHO. But sometime in the future, we will say we’ve “learned from the past.” Protocols have been violated, processes cut out of the equation, and yet manufacturers insist tests have proved the effectiveness of the drug.
What leaves a bad taste in the mouth is that Pfizer is set to make a cool $15 billion profit from the vaccine alone. 15 billion greenbacks putting most of the developed world at risk. The process of vaccination has been trumpeted, but countries such as Spain are unable to administer the second dose. Israel has been highlighted as the country that has effectively vaccinated its citizens so much so that they now will spare some for the Palestinians.
African-Americans remain unconvinced. Most believe it is a drug that will effectively eliminate them. Similar beliefs are working in other countries. Bangladesh’s registration has been woefully slow. Leading political figures around the world have gone public when being vaccinated. Strangely enough, those that are idolized -- the superstars in sports, movies, culture, arts, education, and more aren’t stepping up in public. Maybe they, too, want to be able to say “learning from the past” or perhaps, for a change then, “present.”
The virus has acted differently around the world. In the United States, the poorer sections have been worst afflicted. In Bangladesh, day-labourers and slum dwellers haven’t. In Europe, no one is being spared. In India, the cities are bearing the brunt of the pandemic, whereas the lesser privileged are somehow escaping infection.
Those recovering from the virus are experiencing side effects that no one can make head or tail of. One wonders what the impact will be psychologically and physically on the health professionals. Too many have died -- that will affect every country in seeking replacements. The knowledge that departs with their demise will be lost forever. When the pandemic decides it has done enough or when our bodies can develop self-defense, the full scope will be clear.
For now, one has to cling to hope and continue masking, social distancing, and avoid gatherings. None of these are pleasant. That’s life. Decided and run by the creator or whatever being that science would like us to believe. One thing is for sure. Grave-diggers won’t be unemployed.
Mahmudur Rahman is a writer, columnist, broadcaster, and communications specialist.
