POLITICAL GAME-PLAY

The current pandemic has exposed the gap between political leadership and management leadership, amongst many heads of state. COVID-19 has afflicted 181.6 million people across the world and has caused 3.93 million deaths. The global economy has been crippled. Over 200 million will be rendered jobless across the world according to United Nations. An addition 115 million people could sink into extreme poverty according to World Bank.

President Trump refused to take COVID-19 seriously enough for many months. He even refused to wear a mask or advocate it. He was at constant loggerheads with Dr. Anthony Fauci, the Chief Medical Advisor to the President. He even stopped funding the World Health Organisation (WHO). Some leaders were more concerned about ensuing elections. They devoted more time to their campaigns than managing COVID-19. They refused to lockdown crowded cities and transport networks, afraid to cripple the economies. They did not want unemployment or low rates of growth before the elections. The result was that COVID-19 took a tenacious grip.

The callous approach to the disease and the delay in declaring lockdowns, took their toll. Trump lost the elections. President Joe Biden, immediately focused on managing the pandemic. He declared selective lockdowns, encouraged vaccine producers and launched the vaccination drives on a war footing across the country. He even evoked war time laws, to foster production of vaccines and medical equipment. His initiatives helped to control the disease.

Unfortunately, the UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson also followed Trump’s lead and delayed lockdowns initially, which aggravated the situation.

Political leaders should learn to put the public cause above their own interests. Elections come and go. Political jobs like presidentship and prime ministerships also come and go. However, human lives that are lost, are lost forever. They leave gaping holes in families and the lives of loved ones. Rajendra Aneja

Mumbai, India