Ever since Corona showed up its fiendish head in March 2020 in Bangladesh, our state machinery has been engaging in relentless see-saw battles against the grave health risks to people. Bangladesh ought not to be blamed for inadequate response to the novel health risks. All other countries in varying degrees have paid the price of getting similarly caught unaware.
The most advanced nations have been reeling under Corona induced hospitalization and deaths and in this situation Bangladesh with its limited health care facilities need not be ‘reasonably’ blamed for poor response to the unprecedented pandemic. Bangladesh has coped commendably to increase coping capacities within its territories and Providence also played a part in keeping sufferings here limited specially in the backdrop of our giant neighbor, India, recording the highest number of daily infections from Covidf-19 for some months at a stretch.
Our varied policies of lockdown, limited lockdown, relaxed lockdowns, etc. have been not unsuccessful in keeping the pandemic at bay while also vitally people’s lives and economy going. But the latest alarming spread of the delta type of the pandemic in Bangladesh have clearly manifested why half measures or quarter measures and their repetition would no more work as effective antidote. At least for a while, all out actions like an all embracing lockdown across the country is necessary to put an effective brake on the all engulfing spread of the pandemic.
To this end, the last two weeks long countrywide lockdown was necessary and fully justified. Its temporary withdrawl for Eid is no doubt risky. But the clampdown must renew with total dedication and no compromises ,till the declared period,as soon as the Eid fervor is over. All of us in the country, public and private sector , management of industries in the private and public sector, workers, traders, service providers, daily wage earners and all others must on their own gird up their loins for the period of all out lockdown and they will require supports in cash and kind from the government or enabled to endure the tougher lockdown.
Skeptics will ask what good the recently withdrawn lockdown of 14 days achieve ? They are likely to say that whereas the daily death rate was averaging some 30 or 40 two months ago, the same steadily increased and rose to above 200 after the imposition of the last lockdown. But experts are likely to contend that the deaths and infections could soar to thousands probably if the lockdown was not in place. Considering all these, the merit of going through a truly well enforced extended period of lockdown after the Eid is seen.
Meanwhile, government must work on a war footing to bridge the gaps in its supply chains of equipment, oxygen, ICUs and medical personnel so as not to be overwhelmed by the onslaught of Covid-019. The media very recently has reported unanimously that the country’s health system is facing a collapse as too fast hospital beds are being gobbled up by the soaring number of Covid-19 patients.
There is no time to pause and ponder. Brisk and unconventional steps need to be taken to beef up capacities within the existing hospitals, set up field hospitals with large holding capacities. The state machinery must work round the clock anticipating a further explosion of the pandemic. Government must concentrate its efforts-starting immediately-to save lives. No Covid-19 patient should be turned away from a medical facility on grounds of full occupancy, to die without help or treatment. The optimistic vaccination programthat has started must be carried out completely to a successful culmination. A few nations has been so successful like Bangladesh in early contracting for assured delivery of some 200 million doses of vaccines from external sources.
With head start and proper planning, a nation which successfully fought the war of independence and won it, is not likely to go down to Covid-19’s advance. Inshallah, we are going to win this struggle against Covid-19 with the help of Providence and our own far sighted planning.
