All world authorities are on alert against the 2019-nCoV coronavirus responsible for the outbreak that originated in Wuhan, Hubei province, China.
This respiratory infection, which spreads from person to person, is proving highly worrisome with a fatality rate of 2.3% . In addition, to China, the other countries are gradually joining … Thailand, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Singapore, Nepal, Malaysia, Sir Lanka, Australia, France, Canada, USA, Germany and so on up to twenty countries at the moment .
The WHO is being used in depth with the authorities of the different countries , in the case of Spain with the Ministry of Health, which has already activated the relevant commissions and networks. As a reflection aside from the subject, add that these events put things in their place and dispel possible questions about the existence of the Ministry of Health. I suppose no one thinks anymore, or at least expresses it out loud, that the Ministry of Health has no powers or is irrelevant.
Returning to the subject, we see how the WHO has established the intermediate alert level, discarding the consideration for very serious epidemics of ” public health emergency of international importance “. However, the truth is that the situation we are experiencing means that the international community must ask itself profound questions. Are we really prepared for a pandemic? Are we vulnerable? In what grade?
Faced with these questions, the WHO’s first annual report on global preparedness for health emergencies gives different countries a strong slap on the wrist. It reveals that the commitment to allocate 15% of the budget to improve sanitation by almost 200 governments at the Abuja summit in 2000, unfortunately, has not been fulfilled.
Epidemics in a globalized world
We are increasingly aware that in a globalized world like the one we live in, no one is left out, epidemics behave faster and more extensively. What’s more, globalization favors epidemic outbreaks. The whole planet is connected in a matter of hours through the transport of goods and people. Added to this is the increase in poverty, the concentration of the population in large cities , which sometimes grow without adequate provision of health services, and climate change.
Surveillance is obviously a key element in controlling the extent of outbreaks, which is why the WHO monthly examines around 5,000 signs of new outbreaks. Investing in surveillance saves on healthcare services at the rate of $ 10 per dollar spent and saves lives.
But the greatest guarantee and protection against epidemics is based on the existence of universal health coverage within a strong public health system. Health exclusion, lack of equity and fragility in countries’ health systems are a serious risk in the face of a global health catastrophe. Unfortunately on the planet more than half of the population does not have access to essential health services.
Too many times in speeches the health system is spoken of as a heavy burden of spending that must be contained or cut. It is rarely approached as an investment to be promoted, protected and defended.
Now it is pertinent to ask ourselves another question: How much is a human life worth? What if that life is ours?
Faced with epidemic situations of this type, it is when we should be grateful that our health system is public, universal and has such quality. And also, when we should demand greater commitment in its strengthening.
The deadliest epidemic in the history of mankind was the so-called “Spanish flu” of 1918, between 50 and 100 million people died. Hopefully it will be a historic milestone that will not be surpassed, although anti-vaccines, opponents of universal health care and climate change deniers make things even more difficult.
We must all be aware that we live in complete interdependence where no one is on the sidelines, nor remains unscathed. Humanity must prepare to react swiftly and accurately to the next major lethal pandemic, but our aspiration should go beyond responding to outbreaks, we should try to prevent them.
