Opportunity to prepare for next pandemic must not be wasted

The impact of the coronavirus pandemic has been, thus far, nothing short of calamitous. More than 160 million people have been infected by the virus across at least 220 countries and territories, with 3.4 million deaths. During the pandemic’s first year, an estimated 17,000 health workers died from the virus. Economists project that the global economy will lose $22 trillion during the period 2020-2025 — the world’s biggest economic shock since the Second World War. Unfortunately, between 115 and 125 million people have been forced into extreme poverty since the onset of the pandemic.
A ground-breaking investigative report by the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response, established by the World Health Organization’s director-general in 2020, last week revealed the weak points that led to the pandemic being dubbed the “21st century’s Chernobyl moment.” Despite scientists sounding the alarm over the increasing frequency of emerging zoonotic diseases, many countries failed to formulate full-fledged strategies for their prevention, mitigation and management. Gaps included the lack of global health surveillance systems to alert epidemiologists to emerging zoonotic diseases, the lack of pandemic management plans, healthcare workers not being trained in communicable diseases, limited funding for research and development in this field, and the unavailability of locally produced medical supplies or treatments. Additionally, the lack of a globally coordinated approach aggravated the situation.
Going forward, countries must ensure that such a catastrophic, yet avoidable, incident never occurs again. The good news is, with the right interventions, nations can do much to bolster their pandemic management plans should any similar scenario unfurl in the future. Indeed, though many countries are still grappling with the current pandemic’s effects, many national emergency experts and public health officials have already started upgrading their plans to deal with future pandemics. The Middle East, in particular, needs to make this a priority to avoid catastrophic social and economic losses.
A number of critical interventions will be necessary to ensure countries in the region are prepared for the next pandemic. Governments need to appoint a formal body to take responsibility for managing communicable diseases, in addition to conducting cutting-edge epidemiological research, training healthcare workers on case management and protocols, coordinating with relevant stakeholders, and launching public health awareness campaigns. Accordingly, these bodies will begin formulating and updating their national preparedness plans against potential zoonotic disease threats based on international benchmarks. Special attention must be paid to identifying the root causes of the emergence of zoonotic diseases and preventing them from occurring.
At the same time, it is important to ensure funding is secured to upgrade health infrastructures and ensure adequate essential food and medical stockpiles are available. Investments are needed to design sophisticated epidemiological surveillance systems that alert people to and trace outbreaks around the world. Additionally, many countries have benefited greatly from developing effective digital health technologies that complement their governments’ plans in contact tracing, public health message dissemination, and providing diagnostics. Equally important is the establishment of robust local and regional capacities for manufacturing the necessary medical supplies, equipment, diagnostics, therapeutics, protective gear, and vaccines.
The current pandemic has highlighted the value of scientists, medical workers and technology experts in expediting recovery. Going forward, it will be critical for nations to invest in training such a workforce, which will be instrumental in their enduring health security. Special attention must be paid to rolling out specialized training programs on communicable diseases, pandemic management and protection protocols.
Comprehensive logistics plans will be necessary to map out distribution networks to different locations — all of which rely on updated census data. Investing in startups that conceptualize innovative products or services will ensure countries have many solutions at hand during such precarious situations. Examples include telehealth services, remote working, e-commerce, distance learning, robotics, and artificial intelligence, all of which have proven handy in continuing operations during the current pandemic, despite the lockdowns.
Special pandemic guidance notes would need to be published to ensure compliance by different governmental and private sector entities, such as hospitals and clinics, immigration and transportation services, educational institutions, retail outlets, entertainment facilities, public spaces, and factories. Practice scenarios would also need to be extended to the wider community to nudge desired behaviors, decisions and habits in the case of national emergencies. Disseminating public health messages in various outlets, such as schools, workplaces and community centers, will ensure citizens have accurate information, elevate personal responsibility, and promote sound decision-making during any future outbreak. Government guidance on mass gatherings, quarantine requirements or movement restrictions will also need to be explained according to the gravity of different scenarios.

Countries must ensure that a catastrophic, yet avoidable, incident like the current pandemic never occurs again.

Sara Al-Mulla

International and regional coordination is imperative to ensure access to live updates on the emergence of zoonotic diseases in different parts of the world and their implications on action plans. Furthermore, partnering with renowned research institutes to work on pre-emptive diagnostics, therapeutics and vaccines will be vital in expediting recovery in the case of any outbreak.
In the future, many countries will find that their pre-emptive investment in national preparedness plans will yield immense value and ensure they are protected from any potential health threats. This window of opportunity has the power to change the course of future pandemics and should not be wasted.

• Sara Al-Mulla is an Emirati civil servant with an interest in human development policy and children’s literature. www.amorelicious.com.