The consolation so far is that mortality rate in our country is not as high as in the USA or Europe. This however is true for all the South Asian countries. With similar ethnic background and similar socio economic situation, it is time that the South Asian countries should collaborate with each other and review the strategy to check the spread of disease. Reviewing the data of cases in the South Asian countries it has been found that out of all Sri Lanka has done better in controlling the spread of COVID-19. As on 15th August Sri Lanka with a population of 2.2 cores has only 2890 cases and 11 deaths. Nepal with population of nearly 3 crores has 26660 cases and 104 deaths. Bangladesh which has population of nearly 16 crores has 276549 number of cases and 3657 deaths. Pakistan has a population of nearly 21 crores and has 288717 number of cases and 6168 deaths. India which is the largest country in South Asia with a population of 138 crores has 2618877 cases and 50464 deaths.
According to the above data Sri Lanka has 0.01 per cent population which is positive for COVID-19 and out of these 0.38 per cent died. Nepal has 0.08 per cent of population sick with COVID-19 and a mortality of 0.39 per cent out of these sick people. Bangladesh has 0.17 per cent people developed COVID-19 infection out of 1.32 per cent could not survive. Pakistan has 0.17 per cent sick population and mortality of 2.25 per cent out of these. India has 0.11 per cent population infected with COVID and a mortality of 1.92 per cent out of these.
It is not time to browbeat anyone’s loss or highlight any ones victory. It is a human issue. So we have to work on multipronged strategy. One, that we have to check the spread of disease and have to devise strategy for early detection of cases, test all the suspected cases and the positive cases have to be advised for care as per the grading of the disease. Those who understand and have facilities for home quarantine should be encouraged for that. For others we have to develop large number of places where the cases can be observed in the institutions. Those needing oxygen only can be then shifted to oxygen beds while those who require ventilator can be taken for further treatment. All this requires lots of money. So it is time for serious global cooperation. For the South Asian countries it is even more important to coordinate and cooperate, know about the strategies adopted by each country to combat the COVID.
Several South Asian doctors with social orientation affiliated to International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War (IPPNW) have suggested following steps to be taken in this regard.
• The South Asian countries as members of the SAARC should increase their cooperation in fighting such pandemics as well as other health related issues in region.
• We should develop a continuous system of sharing of knowledge on the health issues in different countries of South Asia and also try to learn from health care delivery system in each country.
• South Asian countries should increase the public health spending to a minimum of 5 per cent of the GDP.
• We should also devise means to make people of the region to travel to other countries for healthcare needs without any visa problems.
• Countries of the region should hold continuous mutual dialogue to sort out problems between them.
• We should have a joint platform to sort out the food security issues in the region.
• We should reduce spending on the arms and instead spend on the health care issues.
SAARC is an appropriate forum which should be made active at this juncture. This is not the time for rhetoric but it is time to take steps to strengthen coordination and cooperation. South Asia is already in turmoil due to severe socio economic disparities, low Human Development Index and at a poor grading in the Hunger Index. Let COVID be a lesson for our polity and people to learn to live in peace and harmony. (IPA Service
SOUTH ASIAN COUNTRIES SHOULD INCREASE COOPERATION TO COMBAT COVID-19
SAARC IS THE APPROPRIATE FORUM FOR REGIONAL COLLABORATION
Dr Arun Mitra - 2020-08-21 10:56
Increase in the number of the cases of COVID-19 in India is a worrying factor even though it is on the expected lines as predicted by several epidemiologists. While Delhi has shown some downward trend, other states have now been showing rising numbers. Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Himachal and some areas in North East are having increasing number of cases. This has added to the overall number of cases country wide. Vaccine is long awaited. But the vaccines have to pass through several trials before they are put to use on human population in large number. Since the infection of Corona is not age specific, the vaccine has to be given to each and every person. This in itself is a huge task which involves production, distribution and then inoculation in such large numbers. It is not yet certain up to what duration the vaccine will provide immunity to the individual.