FOR the first time, Guyana was able to secure just over 5,000 doses of the paxlovid COVID-19 pills just recently. With this, it is expected that COVID-19 patients stand a better chance of recovering faster and avoiding the effects of long COVID. And it means that after three years of the COVID-19 pandemic in Guyana, these specialised treatment pills have been added to the country’s arsenal.
Still, I found it disheartening, ironic, and frustrating that Guyana was finally able to secure these pills after months of lobbying and when, arguably, the worst phases of the pandemic were over.
Guyana’s Health Minister Dr. Frank Anthony, publicly said COVID-19 infections and deaths are at the lowest they’ve been throughout the pandemic. Weekly, only a handful of new infections are recorded and there are no individuals seeking critical care in the COVID-19 Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
Essentially, one can reason that the local demand for these pills is quite low compared to last year, for example, when hundreds of infections were recorded daily and numerous deaths.
At the recent handing over ceremony, UNICEF Guyana Deputy Representative Irfan Akhtar acknowledged the challenges low and middle income countries experienced while trying to get these potentially lifesaving pills. But for him and Guyana’s Health Minister, securing the vaccines was a win nevertheless since it means people infected will be able to use the pill regimen.
Concerns were not lost on me, however.
In the first instance, the time it took for Guyana to secure these pills is telling. Just as vaccine equity, or the lack thereof, during the initial phases of the pandemic caused much concern, it is clear from the distribution of the pills that not much has changed.
And with unequal distribution systems like this, it is no surprise when potentially unprecedented or simply uncommon actions are taken.
One may recall that similar unequal and inequitable systems of distributing lifesaving vaccines reportedly forced Guyana to source and pay higher fees for the Russian-made Sputnik V COVID-19 vaccines. With developed countries stockpiling vaccines amid a global shortage, local authorities argued that the decision they were confronted by was a choice between using the Sputnik V or waiting on approved vaccines to become available. That, of course, came with its own unique set of challenges because that vaccine has not yet gotten approval from the World Health Organization (WHO) and though purchased and available for use, it would be understandable if people did not want to take it.
In the wake of these unequal distribution systems, recognising, perhaps, that moral suasion is not enough, Guyana and other countries are attempting to do what they must to guarantee that they are not affected like this again.
For months, there have been talks of a new vaccine-making facility similar to the one in Rwanda. And that country and India have been viewed as potential partners, capable of helping Guyana and the Caribbean establish that facility or similar facilities. Locally, there have also been talks of manufacturing more of our own medications, again, in a bid to counter some of the challenges that may arise globally.
According to Advisor to Guyana’s Minister of Health, Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, Guyana aims to become a manufacturer of medications and vaccines because the distribution challenges experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic were just part of a larger, concerning situation.
In fact, he reminded the public that when the AIDS epidemic became a health threat, there was no access to lifesaving medications. Developing countries had little to no access to lifesaving medicines and technology although the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals aim to improve and ensure the world has equitable access. Guyana never achieved that.
These experiences demonstrate that inequity and unfairness remain rampant even when people’s lives depend on them. As such, it is increasingly important for developing countries, like Guyana, to avoid remaining dependent on systems that simply do not work in their best interest.
If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com
