Our ideas of being modern have largely been defined by western cultural standards. We think that a city must have these number of roads; trees must be cut down to give way to highways; large tracts of agricultural lands must give way to "development" like being filled up with golf courses.
These kinds of ideas have been spawned by a largely corrupt system of government whereby company permits to operate with unbridled push and shove resulting in our people's seeking a breather abroad. Our workers, and now even our much-needed health workers many of whom prefer to go abroad instead of staying on to help keep our people alive and well defended against Convid 19, are opting to go abroad.
But what life can other workers find abroad as all countries are now being attacked by this virus? The health workers may find a haven in hospitals with greater supplies of Protective gears and so could remain alive while attending to Covid 19 patients, unlike here in our country.
I think now we can see how our being underdeveloped is being exploited to still serve the needs of the well-developed countries.
What is underdevelopment? We say a country is underdeveloped when the economy is not stable; when there is an authoritarian government; when there is great poverty and malnutrition; poor health condition and weak educational structures.
These are not my original ideas. These have been expounded by many economists and I am just taking off from their description of underdevelopment.
Now that we are undergoing this crisis of Covid 19, we can see how underdeveloped we are in terms of facing the reality of death every day. Every morning, I am faced with statistics of how many cases we have; how many have recovered, and how many have died of Covid 19. As I live in Quezon City, I also keep track of how many deaths there are and I am glad that there is one barangay that does not have a Covid 19 issue, as of yesterday -- Paltok.
The daily statistics does not show that we are able to conquer this virus at all. Comparing our status with other countries does not help because people are still dying -- either from lack of being tested for the virus; for having a weak constitution; for lack of or poor medical attention.
In other words, the conquest of the virus is still situated here in our country not anywhere else. And who is in the center of attention who is facing this problem? The Dept of Health.
The bureaucratic character of DOH accounts for the very slow response to the problems attendant to solving Covid 19. Our health workers lack protetive gear; the very people who are in direct contact with the patients cannot even be protected. Yet we hear of billions of pesos being released here and there.
Now to speak of being developed in the area of health, our health officials must have forward-looking perspectives; not thinking too much if their power is being reduced; lessened or questioned by local officials, some of whom have a lot to gripe about their slow attention to their need to be independent in terms of having their own testing centers, for one.
To have a forward-looking outlook is to see that our health workers have to be strengthened and be given all the necessary support so that they will remain healthy and morally inspired to attend to our people's needs. The priority now should be to purchase protective gears in the millions for them so that hospitals will not be viewed as a catacomb for them.
Also, the problem of Covid 19 should be viewed holistically. Is there enough nutritious foods for everyone? Does the DOH view that as a big problem in combatting Covid 19? In their latest media conference, the spokesperson reminded people to eat nutritious foods. I think the DOH should direct that to the DILG, the LGUs especially. Many have not been issuing food packs and the social amelioration budget despite the DSWD release of funds to them. A Barangay here in Quezon City is reported to have many cavans of rice stacked in the Barangay office. Why are they there? Why are not being distributed? How can our people stay healthy when they do not have food to eat?
In other words, to be forward-looking for DOH is to strengthen its grip on the LGUs and make sure that the people are being fed properly. The health officials must make an active stance to look at the problem of Covid 19 holistically, not only from the medical point of view but also nutrition-wise. Their voice in telling off these LGUs to make their act humane is to recognize the gravity of the problem facing us now. The DILG is not being strong enough in disciplining the barangays to attend to their duties judiciously. And so the DOH must take the initiative to focus the attention on FOOD, FOOD, FOOD.
But looking at our health problem from a larger perspective, we can see that not even healthy bodies could be safe from the attack of Covid 19. In the well-developed countries where food is abundant, the virus is also active. But they have an advantage to us -- their scientific education as in the case of Germany, South Korea, Singapore, and a few other countries -- have made them lower the number of deaths due to the virus there.
Correct me if I am wrong but I have a hunch that there is one country which is the key to solving this Covid 19. I still believe that this is a case of biowarfare being perpetrated to show how far they can control the world affairs. I pray to God that I am wrong.
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