High level of civic awareness, dedication of healthcare professionals, good governance at local and central government level and quality public service were instrumental in controlling the coronavirus and keeping the pandemic under check. No wonder that till to date (June 24) Korea has performed 1,208,597 tests and reported only 281 deaths out of a total of 12,535 people who tested positive, since the start of the epidemic. Its positivity rate is 1.1% and currently there are 1295 infected cases in the country.
However, the Minister cautioned that COVID-19 is far from over. "We need more active international cooperation and collaboration not only to overcome the current crisis, but also to explore the new role of public service in the post COVID-19 era. Now is the time to make efforts to realise more efficient and productive public service as well as promote transparency and democracy."
Kerala state, which recorded the first case of COVID-19 in India, is another example where good governance by public services, including public health surveillance and public health interventions to minimise the spread and mortality. At 0.6% it has one of the lowest case mortality rate in the country, informed Kerala's Minister of Health KK Shailaja.
Then again, COVID-19 has re-emphasized that nurses, who make up 60% of the health workforce, are the backbone of health services. They have always been in the forefront of the fight against any health crisis, including the current pandemic. They are also most at risk of contracting the infection as they spend long hours with the patients everyday. Yet, in many countries they are experiencing shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks and gloves. Annette Kennedy, President, International Council of Nurses, voiced her concerns at the high number of infections and deaths among the nursing staff globally. She said that apart from lack of PPE, nurses do not have access to regular testing. And to top it all, they are facing a lot of violence and stigma from society at large, including recent kidnappings of nurses for ransom in Mexico. Kennedy wanted governments to fill up the existing shortage of 6 million nurses, improve their employment conditions involve them in leadership and policy making. Unless the system protects them, they will not be able to work to their full potential to protect others.
Rosa Pavanelli, General Secretary, Public Services International (PSI) expressed the complete solidarity of her organisation with the public service workers, many of whose work is hidden, but essential to keep the community going. They have often been scapegoated as being responsible for public spending and increasing public debt. But the current pandemic has suddenly made everyone realise how fundamental and vital they are to keep the communities not only safe but also economically viable. COVID-19 notwithstanding, Pavanelli called for readdressing the current development model and to make efforts to invest in public services to work for economically, socially and environmentally viable sustainable development.
Shobha Shukla - CNS (Citizen News Service)
(Shobha Shukla is the founding Managing Editor of CNS (Citizen News Service) and Coordinator of APCAT Media (Asia Pacific regional media network to end TB & tobacco and prevent NCDs). Follow her on Twitter @shobha1shukla or visit www.bit.ly/ShobhaShukla)
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