Posted on May 9, 2021
It is terribly alarming that, COVID-19 deaths in India could potentially reach a “staggering” one million by August 1 this year. An editorial published in medical journal, the Lancet, said citing an estimate by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, an independent global health research centre of the University of Washington. If that outcome were to happen, “The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that India will see a staggering 1 million deaths from COVID-19 by Aug 1. [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s government would be responsible for presiding over a self-inflicted national catastrophe,” it said.
This was reported that a forum of scientific advisers set up by the government warned Indian officials in early March that a new and more contagious variant of the coronavirus is going to take hold in the country. Despite the warnings about the risks of superspreader events, the central government did not seek to impose major restrictions to stop the spread of the virus. Millions of unmasked people attended religious festivals and political rallies for regional elections that were held by Prime Minister Modi, leaders of the ruling BJP and opposition politicians. Yet before the second wave of cases of COVID-19 began to mount in early March, Indian Minister of Health declared that India was in the “endgame” of the epidemic. Despite repeated warnings of the dangers of a second wave and the emergence of new strain, the impression given by the government was that India had beaten COVID-19 after several months of low case counts. Modelling suggested falsely that India had reached herd immunity, encouraging complacency and insufficient preparation, but a survey by the Indian Council of Medical Research in January suggested that only 21% of the population had antibodies against SARS-CoV.
In spite of the last year’s experience we were not prepared for the sudden spike in cases, quickly running out of medical oxygen, hospital space and overwhelming the capacity of cremation sites. Exceptionally Kerala and Odisha, were better prepared, and have been able to produce enough medical oxygen in this second wave to export it to other states.
The union government must adopt a “two-pronged” strategy to fight against the epidemic by speeding up nationwide vaccination and reducing transmission of the deadly virus. The central government and the state governments must work in tune with local and primary health-care centres that know their communities and create an equitable distribution system for the vaccine. The government must publish accurate data in a timely manner, and forthrightly explain to the public what is happening and what is going to happen and what measures are urgently needed to crush this epidemic.
It is the responsibility of every human being to prevent another wave of this pandemic. When you have to live with the restriction due to COVID, you will have to learn how to adapt to the new systems. Every one of us has to be disciplined like a soldier. Wear a mask religiously and maintain social distancing. If you are following the COVID guidelines, you are obliging none but yourself. This is your sole responsibility. It’s high time to be honest, selfless, sympathetic, to stay healthy and self-reliant. Take care of yourself, your family and your nation because God helps those who help themselves.
Jai Hind!
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