The Coronavirus (Covid-19) is teaching us something about class. This is particularly clear in the West, the US to be exact. The situation in Africa is evolving at this point: we will have to wait and see. In the US, both the rich and the poor are getting sick. The poor will be impacted more than the rich; that is without a doubt. Yet, the rich and powerful cannot hide from this disease. This pandemic will have a profound impact on the society as a whole.
Failure to provide adequate healthcare system and livable wages (minimum wages) will haunt Americans for generations to come. The older generations were shaped by World Wars I and II; this generation will be shaped by the Covid-19. This is truly a global crisis. When hospitals are full to capacity with Covi-19 patients and all equipment has run out, it will not matter if you are a millionaire or broke when you show up at that emergency room. It will not matter how many zeros are in your bank account when you are dying in isolation in that ICU room. There will be no one to comfort you, to touch you. No goodbyes, I love you. What will be left is that shared human experience: tears, grief, joy, regrets, happiness, fear of the unknown. The rich and the poor will experience some of those emotions, feelings. Again, it is obvious that more poor people will die from this when it is all said and done. There is not much fine dinning at restaurants, exclusive social clubs etc for most of the rich at this point.
The Covid-19 pandemic is teaching us many lessons. We are learning about the heroism of medical workers and the spirit of giving (Jack Ma, Chinese owner of Alibaba). But what are the Dangotes (the richest person in Africa) of Africa doing? What are the Mohammed Dewjis of East Africa doing? They may very well be doing something privately. I hope that is the case! You may say who cares what the rich do. What they say, do or not do matters. Dangote may decide to say that this is none of his concern. In that case, the people can and should decide to say that his cement is none of their business!
We live in a Global Community. We are interlinked in ways that was unimaginable just a century ago. What happens in Wahun, China can reach to all corners of the world within a very short period. What happens in Lagos, Nigeria or New York, can reach the furthest corners of the world in a very short time. In some ways, the borders and border controls are meaningless. It is too late by the time politicians realize what is happening and close borders (yes closing borders may mitigate spread of diseases). The so-called poor countries are most likely to be impacted more than the rich. However, this pandemic is teaching us lessons about our connectedness; that we are in this together. When wealthy countries continue to exploit poor countries, when they refuse to flatten the curve of income gap between nations, what happens in the “poor” countries will impact the “rich countries” in ways that they cannot ignore. Something has to change!
Finally, it is up to governments to flatten the curve of income gaps and access to adequate healthcare. The poor will eat the rich if there is no meaningful change. We are all in this together. When we provide adequate wages and healthcare, both the rich and the poor are protected; the society as a whole becomes for successful, happier. As we work hard to defeat the Covid-19 pandemic, we should also be keep in mind that the gap in income, wealth, adequate healthcare, education and access to basic needs, all of those differences are not sustainable in the long run if we are to survive as a specie. Governments should work to flatten the curve of income gap, provide adequate healthcare, and access to other basic needs. The people are waiting. This should be a wake up call for all!
© Azaria Mbughuni
March 28, 2020
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