Trigger Warning: Death and Covid Trauma
When I was a law student, I had a subject called ‘Environmental Law’ in my fourth year. Environmental law basically deals with the laws to protect the environment. So, on the very first day of my lecture, Prof. KC sir made it very clear to us, that ‘environment law is all about inculcating and implementing the values and the principles of environment, it just cannot be in theory’.
Recently, my friend’s dad passed away due to Covid-19 related issues, his name was Prof. Sidramappa Itti and he was the Principal of SG Balekundri Institute of Technology Belagavi. This man was known for his principles. When he was a Principal of KLE Chikkodi College, he took an initiative and went to college by bicycle. This is what when my Prof in law school meant about inculcating the principles. We need such people in our society. Approximately, 15-20 students of that college started coming from bicycles after being inspired by Prof.Itti.
Now, you see this is what change means, it does not matter whether the change is small or big, what matters is that there was a change he could bring. And, as there was no pre-planning about how to effectively control the second wave of Covid-19 and then there is a lack of management that we are witnessing, owing to which we are losing such inspiring personalities. We are able to witness that in many countries, the Covid-19 health crisis is unfolding in tandem with ongoing environmental crises too.
Continued environmental degradation will eventually end humankind. Regardless of their mistake, we have witnessed the death of lakhs of people. These are the people who have worked for the society even after knowing that the government and the society they were working for did not have their rescues planned. We also saw the recent death of a social activist named ‘Dr. Mahavir Narwal’ due to Covid-19. Now, this was the person who believed that this country belonged to us all. These were the people in whose hands our futures were safe and we are at times that we cannot afford to lose such people. The future of an entire generation is at stake.
In the year 2020 WHO had also provided us with RRCE Covid-19 preparedness and response. Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) is an essential component of our health emergency preparedness and response action plan. This plan would have been useful if we were to utilize this, this plan also included the two-way communication between the health authorities and at-risk populations in response to Covid-19 but alas, our leaders were planning for election rallies.
There’s so much that we have to understand especially in the Covid times.
- Firstly, our policies must be guided by the weight of science. Now why I am saying this is because of the tweet made by our Union Health Minister wherein he advised to have chocolate with 70% of cocoa to get rid of Covid-19 related stress. And then there was MLA’s who prescribed cow dung for Covid-19. Where is this all leading to? India’s top health officials had to come forward and specifically warn them against using the cow dung as a treatment for Covid-19. You see, we need science to guide us, there is no time to lose.
- Secondly, to support public understanding and scientific literacy, Scientists must be effective and energetic communicators, they must be able to clearly convey the message.
- And finally, we must commit ourselves to health equity, meaning fair access to healthcare professionals, a safe and healthy environment regardless of their background or circumstances.
Remember, we are in the midst of the biggest crisis ever seen after Partition. We are losing our loved ones and that we are left with the hardest choices, it is this time that we have to act honestly and bravely. These are the times where even one neglected act can cost a life. Think and act.