WITH new Covid-19 infections already having surpassed the 8,000 mark, it is time we rethink our pandemic strategy. Calls for a change have been made by experts and much has been said on social media about how the current situation is a cause for worry, with cases spiralling out of control.
A lockdown like what we had in March last year notwithstanding, there are other measures which can be taken. This is especially so when it comes to the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (NIP).
Many of us were left frustrated reading about the tens of thousands of vaccination appointments being missed. Yet, there are underlying factors to these missed appointments, especially among our elderly.
Many senior citizens find it difficult to travel to vaccination centres, or have no transportation whatsoever. This is where we need to change. One suggestion is to have mobile vaccination units.
These are in the works for Kuala Lumpur and that is good. Why not add more of such units, especially in rural areas, where many would have to travel far just to get their vaccine doses. Another suggestion is to have many community vaccination centres instead of mega centres, to make things more convenient for rural people.
Above all, perhaps, we need to reach out more as a community. Malaysians are well-known for their spirit of volunteerism and charity. Just look at how we have reached out to countries and communities hit by disasters. Look at how we have sent aid to Palestinians. We should be praised for all these, of course, but as the saying goes, charity begins at home.
These are tough times indeed, but when the going gets tough, the community should get closer. There is so much we can do for our communities. It can be anything, even something small like sharing contacts for ordering groceries and food, or renting vans to send our seniors to a vaccination centre, with permission from the police, of course. What is holding us back?
Could it be the notion of staying home and isolation during the pandemic and fear of contracting Covid-19 are preventing us from reaching out to others? Surely there are ways of getting around that. The unending political rivalries we have are also a problem. The distrust and selfish attitudes of some make it impossible for us to beat this national scourge. Some politicians seem to ask themselves why they should do anything, or accept a suggestion, if it only makes opponents look good.
What needs to be done is for everyone to set aside differences for the good of the nation. Many elected representatives can be seen reaching out to voters only when elections roll around. They need to do so now, when the nation is facing its worst enemy in decades.
Volunteerism and a sense of community are what is most missing now. If we do not step up, there will not be much of a community left. It should be a matter of survival of the kindest now and not survival of the fittest. As Charles Darwin put it in his book The Descent of Man, communities which have the greatest number of the most sympathetic members flourish best.