2020 : tragic with a silver lining? - the Musings of Mokobi.

Hi. You may call me Mokobi. These are my musings.

In GH, local Covid-19 attitudes have phased through  uncertainty, trepidation, acclimatization, and… - well perhaps a choice between normalization and a reset ?

Our collective consciousness of Covid-19 probably awoke sometime in February. Like most people around the world we observed in UNCERTAINTY as SARS-CoV-2 started its journey around the globe. We listened, watched and read the exploits of this particular corona virus, as it scaled continents and made country stops. Feelings of uncertainty came to a head, as the epicenter baton cycled with ravage through places generally considered to have strong health and economic infrastructure. Historic carnage was forecast for the African continent - which has largely not materialized - not sure why, speculations aplenty - waiting for a public health research explanation, but a win is a win, so not complaining.

By March, SARS-CoV-2 had traversed most of the geographic regions that frequently interact with Africa via trade, travel or some other. Here in GH, it was probably naive to pretend there were no Covid-19 instances brewing prior to the official announcement of active infection cases. In March, TREPIDATION came when we began hearing of actual recorded cases and associated deaths. At this point, the pandemic wasn't something that was happening in far away places and unfolding on our television screens, we were very much a part of the global standoff against SARS-CoV-2.

The following months of April and May came with arguably our highest levels of community engagement, alertness and caution. Extreme and difficult decisions were made individually and collectively. Lockdown and shelter in place policies were deemed pragmatic in response to this novel viral adversary. Keeping away from family and friends was going to supremely tough, but on average we were willing to do it in exchange for a return to normalcy in a very near future - a return that presently looks imminent, eradication withstanding.

Predictable, if nothing else, is the human condition - with July came familiarity with the whole Covid-19 routine, soon followed what is perhaps contempt for life in a pandemic. Be it due to a short memory of the uncertainty and trepidation of the few months prior, or the unfulfilled Covid-19 apocalypse predicted in Africa, or a strong desire to return to normalcy - what was obvious in July, pandemic or not, social and economic inertia had ushered in rapid ACCLIMATIZATION.

As a community we had simply had our fill of all things Covid-19. In agitation, we clamored for normalcy. We started witnessing repatriations of GH folks abroad and partial school re-openings.

By August, social and economic considerations were back in the driving seat of everyday transactions, at least here in GH. The impact of the ongoing pandemic is most likely understated. Unquestionable are the difficult daily living or dying choices that individuals have made, and happening in parallel is the fight for economic survival.

No doubt the immediate socio economic aftermath following the various global and local lockdowns were brutal. In places like GH, the hardship is exaggerated by our predominately daily wage - subsistence - informal economic arrangements. Again...

“how do I survive when you ask me to shelter in place - a good measure to break the cycle of a real pandemic causing virus that is no respector of socio economic status - when it also means I will loose the means to my livlihood?”

So, here we are in September, tracking towards NORMALIZATION in our attitudes, reactions and responses towards the formidable Covid-19 pandemic causing SARS-CoV-2 virus.

But here is the thing… with such a heavy toll from the pandemic already inflicted on everyone - loss of life, loss of livelihood, loss of relationships, disruptions in everyday life and perhaps most prevalent but unspoken of all - mental and physical health stress - all in varying degrees.

Are we additionally succumbing to a loss of vision and forfeiting the enormous down-payment already made in this pandemic for the opportunity to push the great reset button? Should we not consider a redesign and re-engineering against the shocks experienced in this pandemic? Do we simply wait for the next disaster to relive this nightmare?

The Covid-19 pandemic has been difficult, painful and tragic. If there is a silver lining, it gave the world over a valid and shameless excuse to do life different, without the need to explain or justify theoretical ideologies to entrenched camps. An opportunity to redesign and build anew, equitable and just social contracts and arrangements that address socio-economic security, work arrangements, access to healthcare and education - with the sole focus on being human and humane for the sake of humanity.

So, return to prepandemic status quo? Or chart a new and alternate future? 🤨