Building Crisis Management Capabilities Can Save the World From Future Pandemic

Dr Gillian Marcelle, Founder and Managing Member of Resilience Capital Ventures LLC

Accra, Ghana, April 20, 2020//-Dr Gillian Marcelle, Founder and Managing Member of Washington DC based Resilience Capital Ventures LLC, has suggested that building and improving crisis management capabilities could save the world from another devastating future pandemic.

She made this suggestion when she granted an interview with the African Eye Report on her recent opinion piece titled-“Covid-19 global pandemic unleashes possibilities” (https://www.resiliencecapitalventures.com/thought-leadership/innovation-possibilities-in-time-of-crisis).

At the time of this publication, COVID-19 cases have surpassed over 2 million globally with several thousands of deaths worldwide.

Dr Marcelle said: “We should have improved monitoring and early warning systems as well as improved capacities to respond – strategic stockpiles of materials, equipment and supplies” to the fight COVID-19  pandemic.

To this end, she called for an increased investment in systems for health with strong public health components at national, regional and global levels.

Prevailing myths around innovation

As a seasoned innovation scholar and a practitioner in finance & investment, Dr Marcelle, noted that there are many prevailing myths around innovation which has often resulted in a narrow and truncated view. In the opinion piece she recommends changing that.

“By expanding our solutions space we can focus on ways that innovation takes place in settings far away from the technological frontier”.

She continues: “In these places, innovation is often geared to solving problems and producing goods and services that meet needs. There is less of an interest in novelty and more of a focus on usefulness. These are some of the ways that innovation busts myths in the global South”.

In terms of macro level, her hope is that policy makers and leaders are able to develop strategies that put an emphasis on sustainable human development.

In many countries, this means investing in infrastructure including transport and energy, as well as, providing high quality education, systems for health and well being and communications.

Global South requires greater attention

 Africa like many other parts of the global South, should pay greater attention to food security and environmental resilience to better cope with the climate emergency and natural hazards, according to Dr Marcelle.

She stated that these imperatives have not changed as a result of the pandemic.

When asked about the role technology is playing in the tracking and surveillance of the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr  Marcelle was impressed at the role of technology so far.

Saying there are numerous examples of technologies being used in all stages and phases of the response: data science for epidemiological studies, computer science and communications for the use of cellular data in tracking and monitoring, as well as, in the design of apps for public health communication.  Health care systems are employing e-health solutions.

Authoritarian versus democratic styles

She noted that in many countries in Asia and Africa, effective containment strategies went along with authoritarian leadership styles.

“The speed and effectiveness of crisis response has varied across the world and it will be important to better understand what led to success at various stages, and where these gains in pandemic response may have trampled on other values and governance principles.

We have to hold out hope that it is possible to have high levels of trust, respect for personal freedom and effectiveness of government or state actions”.

For instance, South Africa, New Zealand and Singapore provide hope and even in these instances, there is no such thing as perfection, Dr Marcelle, added.

Will the world be the same after this pandemic?

Many social and economic challenges have been starkly revealed. On the positive side of the equation, the world is being shown the effects of human activity on levels of air pollution, with blue skies and clearer waterways being reported from China to Venice.

“The enforced slowdown has allowed for experimentation with new ways of working, recreation and socializing. There have been many global collaborations among scientists and citizens, some are formal and others are spontaneous and emergent”.

The crackdowns and abuses of power taking place around the world are worrying and I am struck by the light and shadow of the crisis”.

Opportunities of this pandemic

 The opportunity presented by this crisis is one of harnessing a moment of intensity. The world’s attention is focused on a shared problem. There is a realization that our connections and interrelations are not imagined.

Air travel for business and leisure has been shown to be a vector of transmission. Public transit systems and urban planning choices that have led to dense housing have been implicated.

Lifestyle and diet, as well as, the cumulative effects of air pollution and socio economic exclusion, have been revealed to be factors in disease, those are some of the positives of the pandemic, she mentioned.

As an example, Dr Marcelle observed: “In the USA, when black men and people of colour are being infected and dying at rates that exceed their proportion in the population, this is forcing consideration of the effect of racial injustice on health outcomes.

 In summary, the pandemic allows an opportunity to recommit to the pursuit of justice, equity and planetary stewardship. The steps we need to take to fight this crisis are many of the actions required to create a better future”.

This is a time for dialogue and constructive conversations as we co-create new realities and possibilities”.

African Eye Report

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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