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Coronavirus Update
Hi John
Words matter – the language we’re using to talk about the Coronavirus will shape the type of society we evolve into once the pandemic subsides. We’ve been working on how the dominant language used to describe poverty and inequality influences how we act [[link removed]] to address these issues. COVID-19 is now shaping not only how we talk about global health and inequality, but also what we value most in society. There's now broad support for putting health and wellbeing [[link removed]] at the top of the agenda, and with COVID-19 driving forward these conversations, how is the dominant language around the pandemic influencing and framing our thoughts?
One of the narratives we've become immersed in is ‘virus as a crime’ as the media talk of ‘Coronavirus invading the world’ and the need to ‘fight Coronavirus’. The Public Interest Research Centre [[link removed]] has reported that the crime and war-like language used in this context not only make us more willing to accept harsher police-enforcement measures, but it's also associated with feelings of protection from the outside, and violence. This risks an unnecessary - and potentially harmful - response to COVID-19, and may also be fuelling the increase in xenophobia and racism experienced by people from Asia in recent months [[link removed]].
As we discuss the threat that COVID-19 poses to at-risk and marginalised groups around the world, such as the people we work with, we must think about what additional risks we’re adding to the pile by normalising the causes of poverty and ill health.
When we talk about how COVID-19 is widening global inequality, we should make it clear that poverty isn’t inevitable, and that it’s a result of how the world’s resources have been distributed to favour certain groups of people over others. Instead of saying ‘people living in poverty need our help to tackle COVID-19’, we should say ‘people forced into poverty by an unfair system are at the greatest risk, but this is avoidable.’ Talking about the system that has created poverty brings us into a frame of mind where we’re willing to think big and favour long-term changes.
When China shipped face masks to Italy, a quote was printed on the boxes that said [[link removed]]; “we are waves of the same sea, leaves of the same tree, flowers of the same garden.” This message of interconnectedness reminds us that the words we use shouldn't divide us at a time when we need solidarity. Chosen well, they can help to build back a better, more equal world as we recover from this pandemic.
We’re standing alongside [[link removed]] some of the most remote, at-risk communities around the world so they have the tools to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in their community. Join us by donating today to help build a fairer global Coronavirus response and create the more resilient world we all want to see.
Help build a fairer world [[link removed]]
Supporting safe healthcare in remote villages in Cambodia
In Cambodia, we've been working with remote communities to train local health heroes to safely spot signs of disease, malnutrition, and how to support pregnant mums-to-be in this new, challenging COVID-19 environment. In these communities, the nearest health clinic is often days away and it's expensive for people to travel to them, plus they may be losing out on a few days wages to get there. By training people within their village, people can access health advice more easily while saving time and money. We are working alongside 100 villages, covering an area with a population of around 80,000 people to deliver health advice and PPE equipment.
From a people's vaccine to cancelling debts - join us as we fight to build back a fairer world!
We've signed on with hundreds of organisations calling for a future COVID-19 vaccine to be affordable and available to all - join us by signing on here [[link removed]].
You can also demand that the UK supports cancelling the debts [[link removed]] of countries in the Global South. This would free up money so they can protect more people from COVID-19 [[link removed]] and its effects.
Thank you for reading our update!
In solidarity,
Sarah Cowen-Rivers
Media & Communications Manager
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Our postal address is Health Poverty Action, Ground Floor, 31-33 Bondway, London, SW8 1SJ.
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