The year 2020 has ended in one part of the world and will progressively usher the new year 2021 in the next few hours. What a year it was, truly ‘annus horribilis,’ in the words of Queen Elizabeth, following Diana’s death and worse!
What began as misinformation, or information shrouded in secrecy, the then-unnamed Coronavirus had already planted its deadly feet firmly in Wuhan, China. The ending Chinese New Year in early 2020 saw thousands of Chinese returning to their workplaces all around the globe, unwittingly carrying the Covid 19 virus and spreading it everywhere.
What followed was chaotic and pathetic. Here was a virus spreading faster than any country could bear. Hospital beds were full, and stadiums converted into makeshift Covid stations. Affected people were ostracized, and governments hurriedly buried or cremated many thousand dead, denying their kin the last glimpse.
The humanity lay confined to their homes, a fear of death and disease, gripping every mind with cancelled flights and deserted roads. The wheels of production stopped, the rich and poor looked up at the government for the rations. Educational institutions closed. None complained, and no one bothered. It was life first, and the rest later. The active, vibrant world was what it should never be!
Amid all these tales of woes, humanity also saw passion, dedication and commitment of the medical fraternity, doctors, nurses and helpers and other frontline workers. PPE clad health workers braved all odds to reach the affected, treat or carry them to the isolation wards.
Virologists and scientists also worked burning the midnight oil. A cure had to be found to prevent a catastrophe of unimaginable dimensions. Governments opened up their purse strings and reached money and material to those in need. It was not welfare states but a welfare world.
Vaccines that normally take as much as two decades to rollout were launched in nine months, and already millions are vaccinated. In India, the vaccination would start in January.
With the availability of vaccines, it is over to logistics; of storing and transporting the vaccines to various parts of the country under prescribed conditions. Given our experience in National Polio Vaccination programmes, India would be able to do a good job.
Let the plight of helplessness end with 2020 and a new hope emerge with the birth of 2021. Like we now discuss the Spanish flu of 1918-1920, the future could discuss our valiant fight after a century. We are all survivors of a pandemic and heroes. I silently pray for the millions who have died and their grieving families and friends.
If I cry, I cry alone, and if I laugh, you will join me. Let’s spread cheer and laughter despite our personal and societal losses. Let’s all carry a smile on our faces, like the soldiers returning after winning a dreadful battle. We have won!
Happy new year to one and all! Stay blessed!
Sampath Kumar
Intrépide Voix
