No Shortage of Innovations

Despite COVID-19 throwing its palpable shadow over so many aspects of our individual and communal lives, reformers and innovators have been able to shine their light with imaginative responses. They use available resources, many re-purposed; they networked, contributing what they could to something useful and valuable. They addressed different aspects of the situation, from sanitation to food provision; they operated at global, national, and local levers. Among the many innovations:

• Church-based communities and civic organisations using online meeting apps to do what they used to do in person - assemble, share stories, pray together, support each other; some have even joined voices in online choirs;

• Local governments reaching out to their constituents, on “Mobile Botikas”, mobile “palengke”, food deliveries;

• Ordinary folks working with experts and fashion designers to create anything from masks to PPEs and ventilators.

There have been gaffes and missed opportunities, to be sure. There have also been cases of inspired and brilliant leadership, like the addresses of the Queen of England, and of New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, as well as New Zealand’s 4-level alert system.

Even now reformers are already thinking of new ways to handle future pandemics. Some of these ideas are: making sure everyone has a bank account with an ATM card, so that it will be easier for government to provide financial assistance; planning for a “sick room” at home, in case a family member needs to go into quarantine; better protection and support for front-liners.

What will not kill us will make us stronger. We just have to keep on innovating.Start writing your post here. You can insert images and videos by clicking on the icons above.

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