PPP/C’s management of Covid-19 is commendable

Mar 29, 2021 Letters

Dear Editor,
I quote from the BBC: “Covid-19 has shaken the world, with more than 2.5 million deaths and 115 million cases confirmed.”
As can be noticed, the effect of Covid-19 is massive and global. In this regard, Guyana has done very well in stymieing any colossal spread of Covid-19, and my attempt here is to proffer a reason for this commendable management of Covid-19 over all, that is in the areas of the healthcare workers, victims and procurement/distribution of vaccines.
Many studies are ongoing and many conclusions/suggestions are emanating. However, one dominant theme is the “Role of Leadership” in containing and responding to Covid-19.
It is here where Guyana has excelled and is excelling under the leadership of Dr. Irfaan Ali and his PPP/C (People’s Progressive Party/Civic) Government. One major characteristic of this leadership is the consistent and prompt public dispensing of relevant information (apart from contingency operations involving financing, quarantining and offering of relief food measures).
In this vein, I make reference to the timely announcement from President Ali that “Early in the new week, the vaccination programme will be expanded to all persons 40 years and older”.
This of course follows on the heels of the ‘60 years and older’ vaccination campaign, which targeted Guyana’s most vulnerable age group. I hope that this kind of organized approach will not be taken for granted.
I note that the president detailed that his “… aggressive expansion of the (Covid-19) programme…” results from the fact that the government has procured some 200,000 doses of vaccines, and currently is pursuing another 200,000 doses, “so as to be able to achieve herd immunity.”
Herd immunity of course is not the panacea, but when a community or a large part of the population of any area is immune to a specific disease, it helps like ‘big time.’
The overall effect of this approach is that when enough people are resistant to the cause of a disease, such as a virus or bacteria, and in this case, Covid-19, then it has nowhere to go, even though not every single individual may be immune.
Added to this is that the President, I am sure after serious and professional consultation, informed the nation that “… a number of private sector agencies have been engaged to assist with the effort.”
Readers need to realise that the Covid-19 pandemic is a global threat and this entails that all be on board, especially those with even a bit of Medicare resource and expertise. I feel that this corporate approach will create a more acute awareness of the threat and repercussions of the disease.
And proof that this is not some kind of ad hoc-knee jerk reaction from the PPP/C, I recall Barbados Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley gratefully saying how her “Government received 5, 000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines from Guyana…” and that she is expecting some 33 600 through the COVAX Facility soon.
This expectation is most forthcoming (for Barbados and Guyana) as “Guyana is (now well) set to receive its 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine from the COVAX facility on Monday March 29th, thereby boosting the plans to begin vaccinating persons over 40 from Wednesday March 31.
Initially there were justified concerns about receiving the vaccines, as a period of silence was noted from the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) COVAX facility on how much of the badly needed vaccines would be supplied to Guyana. Vigorous work then was enacted from the authorities here, and the PAHO/WHO website stated that indeed “… 33,600 doses of the AstraZeneca jab are in transit to Guyana and the shipment is expected on Monday.”
On a cordial note, I remind Guyanese that Mottley promised that the vaccines given to her country would be returned when necessary. Again, I commend the PPP/C Government; they have precluded selfishness and ostracisation. Ms. Mia Mottley was one of the champions who fought for Guyana’s salvaging of democracy.
On our part here as citizens, I hope we contribute to the fight to stave off the spread of the disease. We need to be Covid-19 conscious and adhere to the guidelines of using masks and observing strict hygiene and sanitation practices.
Yours truly,
Attiya Baksh

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