Tragedy and humanity

 It will take many months to gauge how devastating the Covid pandemic has been, to the world, in terms of loss of human lives, complicating health of people and wrecking the entire economies. Despite huge advancements in technology and discoveries in the fields of health and medicine, the 21st century world proved how unprepared it was to defeat the deadly virus-Covid-19 which originated from Wuhan, China. Scientists believe that the Wuhan virus did not originate naturally but was artificially ‘engineered’ at the Wuhan Institute of Virology by manipulating the RNA. The virus eventually turned out to be the Frankenstein of the century. And as it began to infect more and more people, it also began to mutate into various strains which became more and more deadly. Even as the second wave appears to decline, predictions of a third wave is certainly like a portent of bad things to come. If the pandemic has been all about tragedy, it has also been about people coming together at their time of tragedy. People realised that, generating an understanding that health is interlinked as all of us are vulnerable. This is perhaps unprecedented in a world where being self centred means survival. Because of the terrible crisis caused by the ever evolving or mutating virus for which, medical science was still trying to figure out the panacea for Covid-19; the sum of all the feelings of helplessness drove people to do whatever possible, to mitigate the suffering of those afflicted with the virus. Even amidst the global crisis caused by the pandemic, the situation triggered enormous displays of pro-social behaviour with people volunteering to support front-line workers, including doctors, nurses, and other health-care personnel, whose responsibilities expose them at risk of infection. Since last year and till presently, the media has been rightly giving space to highlight the bravery of medical teams, who worked long hours to treat Covid patients. In fact over 500 doctors lost their lives including noted specialists while on covid duty across India. Some 150 nurses and around 200 health workers have also lost their lives to covid in India. Many more doctors continue to suffer from long term effects of covid. The other aspect of the virus is that though it does not discriminate, yet the haves not were the worst sufferers in terms of not being able to afford treatment costs, dwindling incomes or loss of jobs. Those with resources, money, power, have better access to health care. Since the valiant efforts of medical teams, who are at the forefront of the war against covid are duly recognised including the second line of defence- the frontline workers- who have ensured that medical teams are provided with logistical support; it is also necessary to acknowledge the contributions of many individuals, churches and communities. In Nagaland such as in Dimapur, individuals, churches and communities have been doing a wonderful job of providing meals and materials to medical teams and frontline workers including medicines and cash to the covid patients in need. Such charitable works have made a big impact on the medical teams and covid patients. These are reminders that people realise that when they have compassion they can make the biggest difference. Healthy people and a healthy world are both strengthened immeasurably by having compassion at the heart of health.