Building a Different Kind of Bridge Public Health Emergencies Preparedness A Post C OVID 19 Agenda

Reflecting on the devastating effects of the COVID 19 pandemic on Pakistan, we are experiencing weak health infrastructure, lack of disaster preparedness, economic vulnerabilities, and social behavioral issues. However, this is not the first time we are in such a grave situation. People of Pakistan have suffered from various infectious outbreaks such as dengue, Crimean Congo flu, hepatitis, measles, HIV/AIDS, and polio, to name a few. Human made and natural disasters in the past, such as earthquakes, droughts, floods, and terrorism, have also cost millions of lives, livelihoods, and displacements. Considering our history with disease outbreaks and disasters, country’s response to COVID 19 could have been better. Figure below shows the intensity of a few viral outbreaks in the last two decades.