Covid-19: a game changer

With Covid-19 swirling across the world and tireless efforts underway by countries to flatten the curve, approximately 7.5 billion people have been affected in one way or another. The death toll due to the virus has exceeded 0.7 million with more than 22 million infected cases globally. The pandemic is hitting the world with a double-edged sword — loss of human lives and economic disaster. Amid the destruction caused, the pandemic has taught us some key lessons for the ‘new world order’ and can potentially become a game-changer to make health and hygiene measures central to all policies.

Now, basic health and hygiene measures have received serious attention across sectors to contain virus transmission. Undoubtedly, the spirit of enforcement cannot be witnessed across Pakistan, as total cases are crossing 289,000 with 6,190 deaths. Safety measures provide a sense of comfort to citizens. Be it shopping malls, workplaces, or any other place, citizens are seen practising physical distancing, wearing masks, and using hand sanitisers. Provincial governments need to ensure strict adherence to compliance with the new normal behaviours, which should not be ignored once Covid-19 is over as these are essential healthy behaviours to protect citizens’ health.

Safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) measures are needed to suppress Covid-19 cases. Pakistan is ranked among the top 10 countries with the greatest number of people living without access to safe water. Although, there is a remarkable improvement in the proportion of population using an improved water source and sanitation facility, 27.2 million Pakistanis still lack access to safe water and 52.7 million are deprived of adequate sanitation facilities. Research shows inadequate WASH facilities lead to adverse health consequences. With Covid-19 cases rising in the country at a slower rate, the water and sanitation sector is responsible for ensuring that people have access to safe water and improved sanitation facility to protect their health.

Schools also have inadequate access to WASH, and hence worse conditions are observed with regard to lack of drinking water, non-functional toilets and unavailability of soap and water in most public-sector schools. The coverage of functional water supply services in schools has declined from 67% to 63% during 2008 and 2013, whilst improved sanitation facilities have remained stagnant at 63% during the same period. Alongside initiatives of tele-school to cope with the current crisis, it’s time for the federal and provincial Ministry of Education to invest in ensuring adequate WASH facilities at government-managed schools. Furthermore, Covid-19 cases are also being reported in jail inmates as Pakistan has the 23^rd largest prison population in the world and the fifth largest death-row population. Are authorities monitoring and enforcing hygiene measures for jail inmates and staff? How well are prisoners provided with a hygienic environment to safeguard their health?

While national, federal and district governments are responsible for ensuring citizens’ safety, far greater responsibility also lies with the individuals as they need to adopt positive behaviour change to maintain adequate hygiene. This implies practising physical distancing, following proper cough and sneeze etiquettes, and wearing mask, including when experiencing minor ailments (such as flu). Avoiding gatherings during flu and fever, requesting guests to avoid attending weddings while experiencing flu or any other symptoms, and disinfecting vehicles are some crucial hygiene measures to be safe from this modern-day enemy.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 19^th, 2020.

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