4 | Government Response to Pandemics
While pandemics caused disastrous outcomes in cities/nations, they also led to phenomenal efforts by governments and enlightened citizens to revitalize cities in the interest of growth and welfare, prevent and control disease for the betterment of health, and promote pandemic resilience. Efforts included huge national investment in public health infrastructure, sanitation, slum upgradation, public housing, and research on vaccines, medicines, and disease management techniques. Emphasis was placed on social, economic, and environmental determinants of health and the establishment of partnerships in public health. Prevention and control of diseases in urban areas warranted a multi-pronged approach. It led to a mix of policies and actions: widening of congested streets, the war against filth, renovation of derelict areas, underground sewage system and treatment plants, potable drinking water to every house, efficient solid waste management, improved housing conditions of the poor, and air pollution within permissible limits.
Pandemics have been instrumental in ushering in the public health revolution, including advancement in science – epidemiology, bacteriology, immunology, vaccinology, social and preventive medicine, vital statistics, etc., new methods and tools to manage disease and plan interventions such as flattening the infection curve, social movements promoting sanitation as a way to healthy life, urban planning innovation with public health considerations at the center, investments in civic infrastructure and housing the poor, creation of public health institutions and empowerment of municipalities as custodians of public health, etc. These developments have significantly contributed to the understanding of interactions between the natural environment, built-up environment, human-animal-virus-bacteria-disease interface, and spread of contagious diseases. This has facilitated innovations to prevent and control many infectious diseases.