The World versus COVID-19

To whom it may concern,

 We are 4 months into 2020. #24 passed away. May he rest in Peace. #19 is trending upwards. Mamba mentality is much needed in our lives in ‘’the time of the corona”. On March 11th 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared the coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) a pandemic. Today is April 7th 2020, around 1.4 million COVID-19 cases have been confirmed with almost 74 thousand deaths and counting worldwide. The health care system is bending to the point of collapse. Physicians, nurses and everyone involved are in this fight. Mamba Mentality it will be.

COVID-19 has not only impacted our individual lifestyle and health but has also harmed our global economy to the brink of destruction. Politics can’t fix this is now. Have we failed the health care system or has the health care system failed us? Public health crisis you say? Social distancing is proposed, knowing in some parts of the world it’s a privilege that cannot be afforded. COVID-19 is without discrimination, a pandemic that does not only involve me as individual, my home and my country but the world that has become a small place with globalization. It is about time to end disparities of care which have always been and will always be a matter of social justice. Justice hasn’t been just. We have failed years before COVID-19. Failure sometimes is what it is needed for success. #23 GOAT said, “I have failed over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed’’. We will rise. We must rise. We owe this to our planet.

Today, I am writing this blog not as a Cardiovascular Medicine Fellow in training, not as a General Internal medicine physician, not as a health care provider but as a citizen of the world. One world, one heart. Let’s beat strong, together and overcome COVID-19 and the chaos it brings. To quote Batman in the Dark Night Rises: “A hero can be anyone. Even a man doing something as simple and reassuring as putting a coat around a little boy’s shoulders to let him know that the world hadn’t ended”. It doesn’t matter if you are cardiology trained, dermatology, it doesn’t matter if you are just coming out of medical school, or without experience in health care, we can all be heroes and make a difference in this fight against the totalitarianism of COVID-19.

Thank you,

Michel

“The views, opinions and positions expressed within this blog are those of the author(s) alone and do not represent those of the American Heart Association. The accuracy, completeness and validity of any statements made within this article are not guaranteed. We accept no liability for any errors, omissions or representations. The copyright of this content belongs to the author and any liability with regards to infringement of intellectual property rights remains with them. The Early Career Voice blog is not intended to provide medical advice or treatment. Only your healthcare provider can provide that. The American Heart Association recommends that you consult your healthcare provider regarding your personal health matters. If you think you are having a heart attack, stroke or another emergency, please call 911 immediately.”