By Olawale Emmanuel Olayide, Research Fellow, Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
Since the outbreak of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic on 31 December 2019 in Wuhan, China, the global community has witnessed unprecedented sensitive or specific policy responses to curtail, contain and control the disease (WHO, 2020; IMF, 2020; Olayide et al., 2016). Many of these responses have proven to be successful while others required critical context consideration. The situation is a learning curve for most countries of the world. The policy measures have further demonstrated that all nations of the world are indeed developing countries - some are rich while others are poor. Hence, there is need for partnership for sustainable development (IMF, 2020; UN, 2015).
Policy Responses to COVID-19 Pandemic
The broad economic policy responses are largely monetary or fiscal or a combination of the two (IMF, 2020). The policy measures are consistent with recommended social and hygienic practices including (i) staying at home, (ii) regular washing of hands or use of sanitiser, (iii) social and physical distancing, (iv) wearing of protective mask and kits, (v) limiting number of people in public gathering (essentially 5 - 50 persons, depending on the physical area or space), (vi) restriction of human and vehicular movement or curfew or travel ban, and (vii) total or partial lockdown (WHO, 2020). However, it is instructive to note that public policy responses should not be a blanket ones without taking into account the socio-economic heterogeneity of rich and poor countries. For instance, staying at home has cost implications and responsibility for the homeless, internally displaced persons, students and farmers, to mention a few.
Context is the Contest
Although, some of the policy responses have proven to be effective in some cases like China, Germany and Switzerland, other places show that the policy responses cannot be a one-size-fits-all. That is, the local realities of each country in terms of financial, socio-cultural and environmental contexts should be considered. For instance, the system of implementation of a total lockdown requires a proper system of data and information management of people and places. Health facilities and personnel in most countries have been overstretched with poor countries requesting external funding and debt relief. Case to fatality ratio has not performed better in rich economies, too. Therefore, poor countries in Africa and other continents need to look inward by developing their health facilities.
Recommendations
The following are suggested for effective control of COVID-19 pandemic in poor countries of the world:
- Need for proper data and information management: The importance of proper data and information management cannot be overstated. Data and information management play critical roles right from the identification of index case (patient zero), to contact-tracing, provision of medical care infrastructure as well as care for infected and affected populations.
- Avoid “copy and paste” policy responses of rich countries: It is a fact that countries are differently resourced. Hence, it will be unrealistic to have uniform modalities for containment and control of the COVID-19 pandemic. There is need to reconsider and rejig the current policy responses by countries to suit their local contexts. Home-grown initiatives like support for households and livelihoods can help effective disease control and management.
- Use local resources while soliciting for greater partnership: The current COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the strength and weaknesses of both rich and poor countries. It has also shown the opportunity for partnership for sustainable development. The socio-economic foundations of most countries have been shaken, while resilience-building capacity has become the defining characteristic necessary for rebound and recovery.
- Strengthen institutions and build human capacity for disaster and risk management: Having the right institutions (including, policies and skill-sets) has also shown to be effective in dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic. Poor countries have a lot to learn in this regard. It is not about democracy or any other form of government. The important factors are respect for human life, responsive and responsible institutions. Citizens are at the mercy of government when there is an emergency like COVID-19 pandemic. Hence, such trust can only be assured when the right leadership is constituted.
- Have a recovery and sustainability plan: COVID-19 is not the first pandemic to happen in the world. As a matter of fact, each century has witnessed a different pandemic, often resulting into global economic recession. What is important therefore, is the recovery from such pandemic. Countries will emerge from the current COVID-19 pandemic at different economic statuses. Countries that have robust economic recovery plan will recover faster and rebuild better. Similarly, mass health education and hygiene practices should be sustained, even after the end of COVID-19 pandemic.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Dr Olawale Emmanuel Olayide has over 50 publications in form of edited books, chapters in books, peer-reviewed journal articles, monographs and technical reports. Olawale is a Member of the Executive Board of the International Sustainable Development Research Society. He is the President of the Interconnections for Making Africa Great Empowered and Sustainable (IMAGES) Initiative.
References
International Monetary Fund (IMF), 2020. Policy Responses to COVID-19. Accessed via https://www.imf.org/en/Topics/imf-and-covid19/Policy-Responses-to-COVID-19.
Olayide, O.E., Tetteh, I.K., Porter, J.R. and Popoola, L. (2016). Review and Analysis of Vulnerability to Rainfall Variability and Policy Responses to Agricultural Water Supply in Nigeria. Journal of Food, Agriculture and Environment Volume 14 (2): 152-155.
United Nations (UN), 2015. Transforming our World: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Accessed via https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/21252030%20Agenda%20for%20Sustainable%20Development%20web.pdf.
World Health Organisation (WHO). 2020. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Pandemic. Accessed via https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019.
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DSAI provides a platform for dialogue for development studies research, policy and practice across multi-disciplinary perspectives. This opinion piece is published as part of DSAI's call for contributions to our COVID resource section; as a space for pooling and sharing knowledge. Content is published with permission of the author. Views expressed are the author's own.