From Villages to a Pandemic : An aid worker's journey

The dusty roads of rural Ethiopia were my introduction to humanitarian healthcare. For five years, I witnessed firsthand the struggles of communities lacking basic medical services. Those experiences fueled my passion for public health, leading me to respond to disasters and outbreaks around the world for the next nine years.

But nothing could have prepared me for the tidal wave of COVID-19. Unlike the localized outbreaks I'd battled before, this pandemic threatened to engulf the entire planet. The fear in people's eyes mirrored the desperation I'd seen in famine-stricken villages, but the scale was unimaginable.

As a seasoned humanitarian, I watched with growing concern. We'd known a pandemic was likely, yet we were caught unprepared. Decades of warnings about strengthening healthcare systems had gone unheeded. In many countries, the pursuit of profit had led to the privatization of healthcare, leaving the most vulnerable without access to basic care. This pandemic exposed the deadly consequences of such priorities.

The burden fell on healthcare workers, the true heroes of this crisis. Doctors, nurses, and support staff risked their lives every day to treat the infected and protect the healthy. They became symbols of hope in a world gripped by fear.

But healthcare workers alone cannot win this battle. We've seen countries like India achieve some success by centralizing their response under the public healthcare system. This pandemic is a stark reminder that healthcare is not a business; it's a human right.

Beyond the immediate crisis, we must learn from our mistakes. We need to invest in robust public healthcare systems accessible to all. We must support and protect our healthcare workers. Most importantly, we must build a more equitable society prepared to face future challenges, together.

This pandemic may change the world as we know it, but it doesn't have to define our future. By drawing on the lessons learned and working collectively, we can emerge from this crisis stronger and more resilient than ever.

I want to write a poem to share my impressions from my journey as an aid worker looking at how any pandemic or disease outbreak changes the focus. 

A World Transformed

From grassroots programs to global response,

I've witnessed humanity's strength and woes.

This pandemic's grip, a stark reminder,

Of healthcare's foundation, a crumbling timer.

Decades of warnings, a future foreseen,

Yet unprepared we stand, a world turned mean.

The weight on our heroes, the doctors and nurses,

A battle against illness, defying all curses.

But amidst the hardship, a light breaks through,

Communities rising, pulling us through.

Kindness and compassion, a shield to embrace,

The human spirit's resilience, a saving grace.

This storm will pass, to a future unknown,

But the lessons we learn, like seeds to be sown.

For a healthcare system, robust and for all,

And a world more prepared, to answer the call.

Let equity flourish, let compassion take root,

So when challenges rise, we'll bear the sweet fruit.

For in unity's strength, and love's guiding light,

We'll build a new world, ever burning bright.