Rabies vaccine shortage
PUBLIC health facilities, in particular those in Sindh’s remote districts, are facing acute shortages of the lifesaving anti-rabies vaccine. Patients are forced to travel to Hyderabad from as far as Sanghar, Tharparkar and other districts for treatment. The severity of the situation can be gauged from the number — a total of 423 in October and 1,226 in November — of patients who were brought to Hyderabad hospitals for treatment. Sindh is not the only province that periodically faces rabies vaccine shortages. It is often unavailable in other parts of the country as well. For example, there were reports of severe shortages in Peshawar earlier this year. The health authorities blame the unavailability of the vaccine on import delays every few months. But other factors, including the lack of capacity to forecast need, irregular demand by hospitals and poor coordination — are also causes of the shortage.
Rabies is a major health problem in Pakistan: it is underreported and underdiagnosed, and the fight against it is underfunded. Vaccine shortages make the issue even worse, with Pakistan among the top five countries in the world with endemic human rabies. It sees between 2,000 and 5,000 deaths every year. It is one of the three South Asian countries — the other two being India and Bangladesh — with the highest regional disease burden. Researchers have found a lack of rabies case data, nonexistent target surveillance systems, and the dearth of laboratories capable of diagnosing rabies in animals and humans as major barriers to disease control. The only positive development is that Islamabad recently joined a programme being implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation to strengthen the capacity for rabies elimination in Asia. The government is looking for technical assistance from FAO to provide dog vaccination and distribute communication material on rabies’ risks and how to mitigate these. One hopes it will help fight and reduce the disease burden and death toll.
Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2023
Infusing new blood
AS political parties prepare to battle it out at the polls in February, they should consider tuning into the pulse of an electorate ripe for change. It wants them to buck the trend of fielding familiar warhorses, and, instead, bet on women and youngsters.
According to ECP figures, 45pc of voters are expected to be under 35 years of age, 26pc will be from 26 to 35 years, with 20pc in the age bracket of 18 to 25.
Most feel let down by political leaders, are indifferent towards political activity, and, hit by a socioeconomic meltdown, pessimistic about their own prospects. Moreover, the Bureau of Emigration’s records show that nearly 832,339 Pakistanis found employment abroad in 2022, and 315,787 citizens left the country in the first half of 2023.
Such haemorrhage in a nation where the youth constitutes almost 70pc of the population should compel the political class to generate youthful and female representation.
The move will assuage weariness, stem talent drain and soften a patriarchal political climate. Concerned that “the average turnout of young voters for the past eight elections was 31pc”, Pildat, too, recently urged political parties to pick young nominees in the upcoming polls. The institute fears that apathetic young people will turn to “non-democratic, radical ideologies”.
The sine qua non of political modernisation is inter-generational and gender parity. And in a country where women and young people dominate the population, an enlightened and plural political culture cannot be a contested issue.
The influx of young people and women promises a fresh approach to development, diverse political membership, intra-party democracy, sensitive policies and a settlement between electoral politics and grassroots activism.
However, the shift requires redefining ‘winnability’ parameters that make it a steep climb for females and youth. Weak on muscle power and affluence, the field narrows for them as parties prefer safe electables.
In other words, openness in the political sphere consisting of young voices and those of women on negotiating platforms and in peace dialogues needs accountability mechanisms to ensure gender equity and generational change.
Above all, party leaders should be prepared to take chances, beginning with closing their eyes to insular politicians who see constituencies as personal fiefdoms. Change, at its core, is about challenging political dynasties that exclude other aspirants.
Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2023
Giant leap
IN what can fittingly be described as ‘one giant leap for mankind’, over 100 countries have agreed to transition away from fossil fuels at the recently concluded COP28 in Dubai. For the first time in the history of climate talks, there is strong evidence that nations are willing to shift towards cleaner energy sources. The summit’s resolution to phase out oil, gas, and coal use, is a testament to the growing recognition that we must reduce emissions. If one is to be optimistic, this move — long overdue according to EU climate chief Wopke Hoekstra — could mark the beginning of the end of fossil fuels. However, the battle against powerful oil producers like OPEC, who argue for emission reductions without abandoning specific fuels, underscores the geopolitical challenges inherent in global climate negotiations.
COP28’s success, heralded by environmentalists for finally addressing the ‘elephant in the room’, is a significant step forward. However, this is but one step in a long journey. The summit’s agreement, while significant, does not fully address some critical aspects. For instance, the International Energy Agency points out that while the agreement includes their recommendations, like tripling renewable energy capacity by 2030, it fails to provide concrete measures for financing clean energy transitions in developing nations. Moreover, while the agreement recommits to net-zero GHG emissions by 2050, the path to achieving this goal is fraught with obstacles. The challenge of reducing emissions from agriculture and waste — a significant portion of global emissions — remains unaddressed. Scientist Emile Frison’s remark that reaching the 1.5°C target is impossible without tackling food systems highlights the multifaceted nature of climate action. Additionally, the reliance on expensive and unproven technologies like carbon capture and utilisation is a concern. Critics worry that such technologies could justify continued fossil fuel use, undermining progress towards emission reduction. Moreover, the IEA’s revised forecast indicating a robust near-term outlook for oil use contrasts sharply with the commitments made at COP28. This discrepancy between policy and practice is a reminder of the challenges of translating international agreements into tangible actions.
As we look towards the next iteration of the climate change conference in Baku, it is imperative to address these shortcomings. The IEA’s emphasis on discussing finance mechanisms for clean energy in developing countries at COP29 should be a top priority. It is essential to ensure that the momentum gained at COP28 is not lost but rather built upon to create comprehensive, actionable strategies that address all facets of climate change, including the harder-to-reduce emissions from sectors like agriculture and waste. The journey towards a sustainable future is ongoing, and the decisions made now will shape the health of our planet for generations to come.
Published in Dawn, December 18th, 2023