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Have we already forgotten the lessons of Covid-19?
How we respond to a pandemic is shaped by preparedness in peacetime. Some parts of the world are letting their guard down.
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Preparedness is not an abstract concept; it is measured in lives, livelihoods and societal disruption, says the writer.
PHOTO: ST FILE
Lisa Ng
Six years ago, in December 2019, the world first learnt of Covid-19. While the virus no longer dominates headlines, the conditions that foster pandemics have not disappeared. What has changed is our collective attention.
For over two decades, my work has focused on infectious diseases, much of it outside moments of crisis. While attention sharpens during outbreaks, preparedness is shaped in the long stretches between them, when momentum can quietly soften even as risks persist. Pandemics are not defeated by our reaction to the crisis when it hits us. Our response is shaped by years of sustained research, training a pipeline of talent, surveillance and collaboration. When these foundations weaken, we find ourselves scrambling to catch up.
