Paradigm shift in preparing for future disasters

THE Covid-19 pandemic has brought to the fore several pertinent issues about governance and the economy of our country. First and foremost is the question of government resilience in addressing unprecedented challenges.

Previously, the government has handled small-scale disasters such as floods and localised epidemics such as SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and dengue. Although the experience gained from these episodes are invaluable, they are insufficient to handle large-scale national or global disasters such as the Covid-19 pandemic or wars. Disasters of such scale require the mobilisation of all available assets, especially money. We may be providing huge economic stimulus packages, which we can ill afford as they strain the country's resources and would lead to future financial incapacitation.