6 | Conclusion
The covid-19 pandemic poses a public health emergency of global concern. It created daunting managerial, financial, and ethical challenges for governments, especially urban local authorities. While the pandemic traveled to all corners of the world, the intensity of its impacts varied between countries and cities. Some governments have not only contained the pandemic, given its epidemiological and biological ramifications but also minimized its catastrophic consequences. Preparedness to meet the challenges of unforeseen calamities has been a key factor in the effective management of COVID-19. This encompasses the capabilities of government institutions, including municipalities, as well as the population, to prevent and control infectious diseases. Covid-19 has taught that countries with strong public health foundations did well to fight against the pandemic. Developing countries with massive poverty levels and a lack of finance, planning, governance, and management capacity have been more vulnerable to the spread of contagion and pandemic outbreaks. The messages from past pandemics, including Covid 19 and other disasters for developing countries, are loud and clear. Cities are not prepared to tackle unforeseen emergencies. Their infrastructure is weak and has not kept pace with urbanization, economic growth, and public health needs. They do not have a proper water, drainage, and sewerage system. Their municipalities are weak – with abysmal finances and grossly inadequate capacity. Ironically, we have had an airborne pandemic in the form of Covid 19 in recent years. The next pandemic could be waterborne or vector-borne – cholera or plague. There is no choice for developing countries like India but to build a public health foundation.
Over the years, diseases have strongly influenced urban development patterns in countries. Epidemics and pandemics have shaped the morphology of cities. Given the potential of cities to adapt, the relationship between health and the urban environment should be approached from a vulnerability viewpoint. The struggle against infectious diseases is, in fact, the root of many urban development initiatives around the world. As a defense against diseases like dysentery and typhoid, ancient Rome created the first sewage system. The magnificent extension of the sewers and enlargement of the streets of Baron Haussmann’s Paris was partly done to combat cholera. New York City resorted to zoning and building regulations to safeguard citizens from obnoxious and unhealthy developments.
Planned public health infrastructure is essential for countries like India to successfully prepare for and respond to future pandemics. It is critical for public health institutions to be effective and for strong collaboration among stakeholders. Providing resources and decision-making power to local governments can improve pandemic mitigation and containment initiatives. It is also necessary to provide a comprehensive safety net for the poor to shield them from the hazards of disasters. For a comprehensive approach to crisis management, pandemic planning and response should be integrated with urban planning, public health, and disaster management frameworks. Long-term pandemic resilience requires investment in scientific research and vaccine development. Promoting social movements for sanitation and hygiene practices can considerably minimize the danger of infectious diseases. Adopting modern management methods and information technology can improve pandemic response capabilities.
India is making significant progress in the public health sector, from the disease phase to achieving health for all and having long-term development goals. A pandemic started by a micro-organism compels us to return to pandemic prevention tactics used in the history of pandemics. Understanding the history of public health provides us with the learning to face difficult circumstances with time-tested knowledge and to overcome problems. From this historical study, we have learned that public health has seen numerous ups and downs from ancient times to the present. While the public health system in ancient India was powerful, it experienced setbacks because of invasion and colonial domination. However, since independence, India has significantly improved public health standards, but for a sustainable and resilient future, the country needs to invest in cities, public health infrastructure, poverty reduction, research & development, and innovation in the management of disasters, including pandemics.
Ethics Statement – Not applicable
Funding - There was no outside funding for the current study. The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose.
Data Declarations - Data sharing is not applicable to this article as all datasets are available in the public domain.
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