Take early action
The Himalayan Times
20 March 2020
Take
early action
Almost
200,000 people from more than 150 countries have been infected with the deadly COVID-19,
since it first appeared in China, killing thousands of people. The governments
of many European countries are struggling to protect their citizens by adapting
extraordinary precautionary measures. It has also affected some Asian countries.
Countries from the Gulf region seem still safe; however, their governments have
also started taking necessary measures to keep this deadly virus away from
their soil.
There
does not seem to be any panic situation in the South Asian Countries including
Nepal. However, the recent proposal of the Indian Prime Minister to jointly fight
this pandemic disease has been wholeheartedly welcomed by its neighbouring countries.
Nepal is lucky not to see any deaths so far from the virus. It could be the
reason for the government not to be fully prepared for the worst situation. Let
us hope such a situation will not arise. However, is our government’s health
system capable of handling a possible outbreak of COVID-19? Time and again,
health experts have been blaming the government and the concerned bodies for
lack of preparedness in handling a possible outbreak.
On
the other hand, traders and vendors seem to be taking advantage of this
unforeseen situation. Police have confiscated thousands of face masks from
different warehouses across the valley that were ready to be for sold in the black
markets “Govt to sell 1.2 million confiscated masks” (THT, March 17, Page 3). Common
people have started facing problems getting cooking gas, food and other
commodities “ Artificial shortages of LPGs hits consumers” (THT, March 17, Page
3). The government’s concerned agencies need to be more vigilant to control
black marketing and ensure smooth flow of essential goods so that the people
will stop panicking.
Rai Biren
Bangdel
Maharajgunj
