Things in the UK are looking up, with the gradual easing of lockdown restrictions over the past 2 months and the imminent return to life as it was before the pandemic on 21 June. But, if there is anything the pandemic has taught us, it is that no one wins unless everyone does. For many of us, friends and loved ones are widely dispersed all over the world, and relief at the situation in one place is marred by crippling worry about the situation elsewhere. And, with globalisation, health and wellbeing can no longer be ensured in national silos, as proved recently: a German biotechnology company co-founded by scientists of Turkish origin teamed up with American ‘big pharma’ to produce the first vaccine to be approved for COVID-19.
What is happening in some countries (e.g. India, Brazil and Turkey) at present is exactly what worried policymakers all over the world in the early stages of the pandemic. Although things seemed to be in control after the first wave, not enough was done to ensure preparation for and management of the second wave. With the governments dithering, people's faith in their political leaders was shaken, and compliance with control measures in the subsequent wave has been poor.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has become politicised and has been monetised to shameful extremes in some places, and no one knows where the buck stops. Stories are rife of life-saving measures costing 10 times the usual amount, with no regulation on pricing. In India, the shortages of personal protective equipment in the early days of the pandemic have now been replaced with shortages of antiviral medication, oxygen concentrators for those with reduced lung capacity and vaccines to prevent further spread of the B.1.617.2 variant.
Hearteningly, citizen leaders have been making valiant efforts to gain some semblance of control over the circumstances, with the support of the global community. But it is difficult to know whom to trust when it comes to the appropriate use and disbursement of donated funds, and this has greatly limited the reach of funding campaigns.
Thus, my excitement at the opening up of life in June is measured, as I consider the plight of people in other parts of the globe. Please keep them in mind as you walk into the sunshine of a safer summer.
If you wish to donate money to support the provision of life-saving measures in India, here is a list of vetted campaigns: