Ukrainians protest Russia’s military operations in Ukraine on February 24, 2022 , [+]
What is the best thing you can do for the world right now amid the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic? How to attack another country, especially one that is already battling with covid-19 and polio?
If you’re able to locate Ukraine on a map (which about 66% of Americans can’t), you probably realize that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will have long-lasting negative geopolitical and economic consequences. . After all, Ukraine occupies an important strategic location, adjacent to various Eastern European countries such as Poland and Romania. And this military offensive could have a domino effect, perhaps making Russian President Vladimir Putin more excited to take action against other countries and influence what China can do for Taiwan. but that’s not all. The invasion could very well create another set of public health woes. Welcome to 2022, which is somewhat similar to 2020.
The answer to the question “war, what is it good for,” is not “pandemic control.” But the answer may be Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). SARS-CoV-2 could be one of the real winners in a full-scale invasion of Russia. During the pandemic, public health experts have been emphasizing that “we are all in this together.” Nevertheless, the decision to attack Ukraine may be Putin’s example himself above the interests of the world. The ensuing chaos could add to the pandemic, which no one needs the size of a pointy massage ball.
Ukraine, like the US, has been going through a winter Covid-19 surge with an average of more than 21,000 cases and 210 deaths per day over the past seven days, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. So far, only 34.29% of their population has been fully vaccinated against COVID-19. This is about 15 percent less than vaccination coverage in Alabama. And the words “Alabama” and “doing really well with vaccinations” don’t go together at all. Invasion certainly won’t help vaccination programs in Ukraine because “not banging your head” will in many cases be a priority over getting more people vaccinated.
Kiev residents have been fleeing the city since Russian armed forces launched an attack on Ukraine. , [+]
Long before the COVID-19 pandemic, low vaccination rates in general have been an ongoing problem for Ukraine. Basically, the anti-vaccination force is strong with the people in Ukraine. Last year, at least 20 cases of polio were reported in Ukraine, in which a child was paralyzed, as it happens when people are not vaccinated against the polio virus. Think about that the next time you get an anti-vaccination message from an anonymous social media account that may or may not be a Russian bot.
The polio outbreak prompted Ukraine’s Ministry of Health (MOH) to sign a National Polio Control Plan on December 30, 2021. The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) in Ukraine lauded these plans, which should have been good news for all. Polio virus. However, if you happen to be a giant poliovirus, Putin can now give you relief by jeopardizing this national plan.
And what happens infectious disease-wise in Ukraine is certainly not going to stay in Ukraine. People are already fleeing Ukraine, because people don’t like to be bombed. At a United Nations Information Service (UNIS) press briefing in Geneva, Switzerland on 25 February, Afshan Khan, UNICEF Regional Director, Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia, indicated that UNICEF was preparing for an influx of one to five million refugees. Used to be. From Ukraine to neighboring countries and beyond. And, children, this is how the world faced another humanitarian crisis.
Beyond the polio and Covid-19 issues, the war itself will likely lead to many other health problems. At first, getting the shot would be considered a health problem. So will parts of your body be blown to pieces or crushed or missiles hit your head. If you think COVID-19 can overwhelm the health care system, imagine what can happen with Covid-19 plus Wartime injuries filling hospitals. There have already been at least 127 civilian casualties in Ukraine and many more are expected to die. Many Ukrainians are trying to defend their homeland against very difficult odds. Tragically, many people will be badly injured or die.
Then there is the emotional and mental stress of going through a war. If being asked to put on a face mask was the worst thing you faced today, consider yourself very lucky. Imagine suffering through a military invasion, worrying about whether you and your family will live to see tomorrow, and witnessing death and destruction for the first time.
A Ukrainian soldier stands guard in a building outside Zolot, Ukraine on February 03, 2022. , [+]
Furthermore, historically not all invading soldiers have been overly polite to the people they dominate. He didn’t tend to simply say, “I’m sorry” or “Sorry for attacking you” or “It’s not you, it’s me.” Instead, invading armies have often carried out assaults and other forms of violence and abuse. During the UNIS press briefing, Raveena Shamdasani for the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) pointed out that the actions of the military of the Russian Federation are already in violation of international human rights law.
The war will likely also disrupt Ukraine’s daily operations, including food and water supplies, schooling, sanitation systems and health care. This can lead to more health problems. The World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and other United Nations agencies are working to raise funds and provide resources to the people of Ukraine. So the invasion is already costing our society a lot of money.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has urged President Putin to halt military operations in Ukraine and withdraw its troops, which put many innocent people at risk, including more than 7.5 million children. But it is likely that such a humanitarian appeal will not work on Putin. So far, the U.S. And Western Europe’s whole-us-to-use-really-tough-words-against-approach hasn’t really had much effect in deterring the attack. Nor is there a threat of economic sanctions. Putin also called Russia’s military advances in eastern Ukraine a “peace campaign,” which is like punching someone in the face with a “love tap” or “getting a piece of hot dog out of your mouth.”
If someone tells you that what is happening in Ukraine is not a big deal and nothing to worry about, first ask them if they can even find Ukraine on the map. Then ask them if they are bots from Russia. in an opinion piece for newsweekFormer NATO Secretary General Anders Fogg Rasmussen calls Putin’s attack “the most dangerous moment” [Europe] suffered since World War II. He described it as “the brutal culmination of an eight-year campaign to pull Ukraine back into Russia’s sphere of influence”. This is also a very dangerous moment in terms of world public health. Russia would have already captured Chernobyl, and undoubtedly this invasion would have far greater consequences.
