HEALTH Minister Renward Wells. (File photo)
By MALCOLM STRACHAN
IT CAN be easy for people to believe the times are not perilous. Perhaps it’s the freedom to travel to places that are either faring better in terms of vaccinations, or whose people are apt to take more risk. It may also be the fatigue of living under such strict confinement for 16 months wears you down to the point of carelessness.
Nobody knows how an entire population checks these boxes, but the reality is crystal clear in the numbers. So far for the month of July, there have been 1,046 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and staggering increases in hospitalisations and deaths.
We want badly to be able to move freely and put this pandemic behind us. Politicians likewise want to campaign and pursue political activities heading into an impending election. Vaccines are terribly needed, but the public largely mistrusts the vaccines and our leaders should be engendering confidence in the populace to take their shots.
As a matter of fact, the discussion on vaccines globally has been unable to just be a straightforward discussion on a public health basis. Unfortunately, this is in large part a result of those who sit atop the public health authorities around the world. Because they are elected officials, how some citizens view vaccines depends on how they view the figurehead promoting it. Certainly, the record time rollout of the vaccines has done its fair share to create hysteria. But that has not been as much an impediment to adoption as the public’s refusal to trust those responsible for setting the policies that guide the procurement and implementation of vaccination programmes.
As a case in point, as well as the US was doing at the start of the year with respect to vaccinating Americans, they have screeched to a halt. At the peak of its rollout, in mid-April 3.5 million shots were being administered daily, but this incredible effort soon became a tale of halves. Month after month shots fell by half from May through July.
What people studying this phenomenon closely are finding out is this is a result of the fracture of two Americas caused by the previous administration. Supporters of the former President still refuse to take shots. But that half of the population is mainly being ravaged by the Delta variant and plunging the US back into the pandemic.
Here at home, Bahamians simply do not trust the Minister of Health, as he is not viewed as having the Bahamian people’s best interest primarily at heart. Moreover, the widely held view of him as a “company man” may serve the Prime Minister well, for he has time and again shown his loyalty. However, disorganised priorities are leading to more bodies filling the morgue and ailing patients in hospital beds.
The situation is not viable if we plan to get through this pandemic with much fewer casualties.
There is a certain irony when we consider how health officials speak from within the tent of government compared with when they’re on the outside. Examples of this are seen in the former Minister of Health, Dr Duane Sands, whose candour has been appreciated outside of Cabinet. Similarly, the same can be said about Director of the National HIV/AIDS and Infectious Diseases Programme Dr Nikkiah Forbes.
Talking with the media last week on the state of our worsening COVID-19 battle, she said: “We have to say, ‘OK, what is the reason why people are hesitant?’
“And there is a myriad of reasons. Some people want more information. Some people are making up their minds. Some people want to hear more about the safety data. Some people want questions answered about how safety was paramount although the vaccine development was accelerated.
“And so, it is important and it’s the responsibility of the health team and the health educators and policymakers to ensure that there is an educational plan and that we point people in the right direction in terms of where they can get accurate and credible information.”
The sobriety of her commentary last week pointing out the dire nature of the situation we’re in impacts us differently when we don’t feel what’s being said is shrouded with ulterior motives.
It is quite unfortunate we cannot get this same feeling when politicians speak.
The reality is these discussions are not happening on a government-led national forum is because they are not politically expedient. But what continues to be disheartening is how within the year and some months of this pandemic, globally, we can point to many instances where political expedience has been prioritised over public health.
Somewhere along the lines of the ascension of regular men and women into frontline politics, they forget what it was like to be the common man, and the fact they stand on the shoulders of their brothers and sisters, presuming to know what’s best for an entire group of people without consultation or consideration.
Finally, vaccines are arriving imminently, as reported by Health Minister Wells during the long-awaited Ministry of Health COVID-19 update on Friday. However, failing to state how many doses we’re getting in total and how many doses are needed to move us to a safer juncture only affirms the government is reluctant to show its hand. Even if this is being done for political self-preservation, this is not the way to win an election.
Hopefully, there aren’t any delays and vaccinations can ramp up quickly because the trend COVID has taken this year has become progressively worse month after month.
COVID-19 will indubitably be the nail in the coffin of a political campaign run. Whether it’s the Progressive Liberal Party’s or the Free National Movement’s remains to be seen.
Comments
whogothere 3 years, 4 months ago
Dire situation...hmmm.. 18 months 200+ people died - many in their 70s and 80s, many with underlying conditions...but Annually 600+ die of fried food and lack of exercise...same folks most at risk of dying of covid..
Dire situation? Nah it's matter of perspective..
Are we tired of this crap? Absolutely...
Do we trust the medical dictatorship? Their track record is awful.. From masks to lockdown to the vaccines (even sourcing them for those who want them)... Why should we?
tribanon 3 years, 4 months ago
Amen brother.
SP 3 years, 4 months ago
Public Mistrust Of The Overall Government Leadership Is The Real Problem!
After making totally asinine moves such as banning N95 masks with a deadly airborne pathogen approaching while the PM and MP's ran around wearing them, AND U.S. "experts" now strongly advocating everyone wear N95 masks in the wake of the DELTA variant, opening the borders without any safety protocols which lead to a second wave and untold misery for everyone in the country, implementing restrictions AFTER July 10th long holiday etc', it is no wonder people do NOT TRUST the government!
It is easy to conclude the government does not have the Bahamian people’s best interest primarily at heart as within the year and some months of this pandemic, globally, we can point to many instances where political expedience has been prioritized over public health, and the clowns we have as government followed along like senseless drones.
Trusting the government, any government, especially kiss ass, unquestionably corrupt, proven failures, like PLP and FNM governments is simply NOT an option!!
The government has long, long, long, lost the peoples trust! Therein lies the biggest hurdle that could make all the difference with the outcome of this pandemic.
carltonr61 3 years, 3 months ago
From earlier than March 2020 there existed global speak out there concerning how to execute B3 Build Back Better. Pronouncements were made of World Economic rebuild New And Emerging Technology and promises by world leaders that a time canceling nationhood Constitutions with build in human rights protection were at hand. There was talk by global elite dictators of promising vaccine technology and powerful diseases. This is 2021 and we are well into all the man made promises of 2017. The catalyst used was a virus which ground to a halt international tourism of planes, hotels, workers, trains and ships. Only a major world war drove profits for major world players. Trump refused to open up the world to war carnage in four years coming in with triggers locked on North Korea and the rocket man slur. There were major attempts at Syria. In January 2020 Trump, this time with Iran backed away from the door of war. The global opinion drivers at MSM failed to could inflict an Iraq Weopons of Mass Destruction profit driven false war on Trump's no wars during my term mantra. Share and stock holders list their war value, until pandemic was announced globally and we were promised freedom after being vaccinated. But now we know all the new vaccines loose efficacy at six months and the CDC has ordered PCR test to distinguish common flu from Covid by January 2021. By then according to 2017 global new normal maniacs humankind would have all been QRcoded push through by vaccination of freedom not Covid, from the beginning. Where will this world war against our bodies end, with WHO director charging world economic powers machinery to reign in non vaccinated nations during Japan Olympic opening, looks very bleak. Now that we face impending lockdowns The Christian Crusaders also used the slogan to kill them all, God knows His own.
carltonr61 3 years, 3 months ago
https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dls/locs/2021…
CDC says the system that determines thousands of cases is wrong. 99% of Bahamians may have a simple common Bahamian non deadly flu, that was always deadly for those with comorbidities.
carltonr61 3 years, 3 months ago
https://www.rt.com/uk/530337-covid-hosp…
Data that is also missing in The Bahamas, but policy that impacts the public, health and economy is being used for political maneuvering and forced vaccination.
Dawes 3 years, 3 months ago
People don't trust the leaders as they change what they say all the time. Wells has said we should be at herd immunity and we are no where near, Minnis said those vaccinated are out (not true) of the pandemic, and yet is bringing back more measures on them. The leadership says what they think people want to hear at that time (and it s always rosy) but never think what may happen in the next day let alone week. This always makes them seem uncredible and therefore untrustworthy.
carltonr61 3 years, 3 months ago
Iceland vaccinated persons all got sick forcing a lockdown.
https://sputniknews.com/europe/20210726…
Vaccines are a false and misleading security by goverments. Sanitation and mask wearing works.
TalRussell 3 years, 3 months ago
Comrade Malcolm, you're shinning star why mainstream media also lost the trust of the PopoulacesOordinaries by its aiding and abetting the Red Regime's propaganda of all blame all but take no bad government responsibility doctrine.
Why not just host the red flag,** higher all see-through newspaper's red complicity on the Tribune's flag post, yes?
ThisIsOurs 3 years, 3 months ago
Renward Wells sycophant-ialism is the death knell of any public health messaging. Nobody believes him. everybody believes he's valued the tourist dollar over Bahamian lives. Value the dollar but protect lives and respect Bahamians
birdiestrachan 3 years, 3 months ago
Wells is just another Masterful FNM liar. only a real nincompoop will believe anything he says.
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