The Science Anti- science politicians have no place in today’s world
Acouple of decades ago it would be overlooked if a politician decided, in his own capacity, to side- step factual information that Science and Scientists presented to them as there was still a lot of empty baseless opposing energy against scientific evidence, no matter how well the facts got proven. However, it is totally unacceptable today for that mind set to still be dominating the way our politicians and prominent leaders make national decisions, at this age and time. Hard as it is to ignore the fact that science can never be separated from politics, it is my dying wish that will one day prove untrue because all many politicians have done is set the world back decades by ignoring factual evidence that science presents before their eyes. I mean for someone holding a position as monumental as that of US Presidency to be so blind – ignorant did not sound fitting – to every bit of scientific evidence presented to them is dismaying to say the least. Is it any wonder that COVID- 19 cases have always soared in his country this entire time since the pandemic started when other, less- resourced countries were managing to have the disease under control? His own Director of the CDC ( Centre for Disease Control and Prevention) strongly advised the public to use masks as a way to minimise transmission of the virus from one person to another, he completely ignored that, even went to public gatherings himself without wearing one. What did that do to his followers? They copied the master, some even demonstrated against wearing masks. Cases soared to unimaginable heights in the US, and today their cases are the most in the world, 10.3million, with their death toll standing at well over 245,000, the highest recorded in the world.
His buddy, Jair Bolsonaro, the Brazilian president, whose country by the way, has recorded 5.7 million cases, the third in the world, 163,000 deaths, the second highest toll to this date, also opposed the wearing of masks saying “masks are for fairies”. It probably is fair enough to say he too is ripping the ‘ benefits’ of ignoring scientific evidence brought to him. He and Trump were so adamant to promote Hydroxychloroquine despite hard facts proving it to be ineffective against the virus, to a point where, after he contracted the virus, posted videos of him drinking the pill. He said in the video, “I’m taking here the third dose of Hydroxychloroquine”.
It makes no sense that after what the world has gone through, we still have hugely influential people who choose to ignore facts that would, at the very least, contribute to them being successful in their leadership reigns. I wrote an article a couple of months ago, just before the national elections in Botswana pleading with my fellow citizens to “Vote for Science”. This came from my realisation that we have leaders today who care less about evidence that is only aimed at making the world a better place, facts that would, if heeded to, significantly improve lives out there. They would rather spew rumours, unproven statements, shallow ideologies and make uninformed decisions which only end up affecting the common people mostly.
One would expect that after all the atrocities this world has experienced, that alone would have naturally gotten rid of ignorant leaders for more open- minded ones with vibrant energy and the will to always discuss progressive ideas. However, trust me, a couple of years from now we are probably going to experience yet another pandemic, so I implore you to sit back and watch how it too will catch us off- guard as if we learned nothing from COVID- 19. Some politicians now are only listening to scientists because they have no other choice, but wait until we have moved past COVID- 19, it will be back to square one. WE NEED BETTER POLITICIANS. HEALTH FOR ONE, HEALTH FOR ALL. Kenneth T. Photlokwe
MSc Medicine ( Vaccinology) – Wits SANBio Youth Ambassador
Email: photlokwekenneth@ gmail. com Facebook: Kenneth T. Photlokwe Twitter: @ Kenny_ TP
It makes no sense that
after what the world
has gone through,
we still have hugely
influential people who
choose to ignore facts
that would, at the very
least, contribute to them
being successful in their
leadership reigns.