Photo Essays

COVID-19 AND SOUTH ASIA

By Avinav Singh Khatri

COVID-19, the modern-day catastrophe, the ongoing global pandemic, began as a health emergency and has since grown into a massive economic and 'people crisis.' Governments implemented lockdowns to contain the pandemic and save lives, leaving millions of people jobless. This pushed them into poverty and famine, and plunging the global economy into the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.

COVID-19 was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China, and was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020. Since then, the virus has spread dramatically nearly everywhere on the planet. This is also true in South Asia. Nepal was the first country in South Asia to disclose a confirmed case of Covid-19. Many people have died, and their livelihoods have been impacted. This pandemic has also harmed world economies. This pandemic has put South Asian economies to the test in terms of dynamism and resilience.

South Asia is one of the world's most densely populated regions. Over a third of the world's population is living in extreme poverty and hunger, fragmented social protection. There exist informality in economic activities and employment, wide gaps in public health infrastructure, and low rate of physicians per 1000 people, which ranges from 0.3/ 1000 to 1/1000 in countries of this region. As a result of all of these factors, the South Asian region is particularly vulnerable to large-scale infectious disease outbreaks. COVID-19's rapid spread in South Asia has endangered human lives and disrupted livelihoods. It affected trade, the economy, and businesses all around the world. Inequalities have widened, leaving millions of people unemployed, which has caused extreme poverty. South Asian countries entered into this pandemic unprepared. "Because of their large population, weak health facilities, high poverty rates, food insecurity and hunger, low socio-economic conditions, poor social protection systems, limited access to water and sanitation, and inadequate living space, South Asian countries have had to deal with a more difficult situation as a result of the pandemic" (1).

Governments have imposed a lockdown to control the spread of Coronavirus. To a greater extent, this has been a good move. However, things go differently for some. Though the lockdown effectively contained the spread, the poor have a bleak future ahead of them. This pandemic has adversely affected various countries' economies and shaken the socioeconomic order. Due to the pandemic, many businesses were shut down, leaving many jobless in multiple sectors. Low-income people, mainly daily wage workers in the informal sector, are more likely to have lost their jobs. As a result of the unemployment caused, an increase in the risk of hunger, food insecurity, and poverty is expected. Also, a considerable population in this community lacks access to health care. As a result of all these factors, we saw a colossal movement of people when governments first announced the lockdown.

THE BITTER REALITY

This pandemic has shown us that countries with nuclear weapons face oxygen shortages. South Asian countries are no different; these countries face even more oxygen scarcity. Without a robust plan of preparedness, a considerable population lacking access to healthcare, and weak public health infrastructure, South Asia enters into covid 19 crisis. This has caused upheavals in the healthcare system resulting in colossal damage and the loss of many lives.

Many people lost their lives just because of the oxygen shortage. What answer do we have to family members of those who lost their lives just because of oxygen shortage? This pandemic has shown a clear picture of our public health infrastructure, where we lack behind, and what we need to work on. Despite all loss and damage,, this pandemic has caused, governments are fighting hard against this covid 19 pandemic. However, we must be bold with our efforts and must try even more challenges to make everyone safe everywhere.

MODERN-DAY CATASTROPHE

This tragic and terrifying pandemic has caused an atmosphere of pain and fear everywhere. It profoundly impacts human lives, with screams and sobs being heard all around. No matter how much we claim to have made progress in medical science, this pandemic has shown a lapse in our healthcare system. The death of millions of lives worldwide is not only because of this virus but because of our collective failure. We all must work together to improvise our healthcare system. If nations can find the will to send people to the moon, they must find ways to provide their citizens access to health care. We must address this as soon as possible; otherwise, this fire will burn us down.

THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION

In this handout photograph taken on April 8, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi (L) receives the second dose of the Covaxin Covid-19 coronavirus vaccine at AIIMS hospital in New Delhi.

— AFP.

Regardless of other endeavors to contain this pandemic, vaccination is the ultimate solution to fight the pandemic. The pandemic has taught us that no nation can survive and thrive independently. How many new variants of COVID-19 must arrive before implementing a worldwide vaccination action plan? How many more deaths must it take before the excess vaccines in possession of advanced countries of the world will be shared with those with simply no access to the vaccine? This global vaccine disparity is a grave danger. We must remember that no one is safe until everyone is safe. A robust vaccine distribution Plan is the need of the hour, and India has made its position clear in this regard by providing vaccine aid to its South Asian neighbor. Also, with more than 100 billion doses of vaccine produced, India emerges as a global vaccine leader.

The COVID-19 pandemic is projected to have significant and long-term economic and social consequences in South Asia, which is why these challenges must be effectively addressed.

References

Rasul, G., Nepal, A. K., Hussain, A., Maharjan, A., Joshi, S., Lama, A., Gurung, P., Ahmad, F., Mishra, A., & Sharma, E. (2021). Socio-Economic Implications of COVID-19 Pandemic in South Asia: Emerging Risks and Growing Challenges. Frontiers in sociology, 6, 629693. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsoc.2021.629693