The reopening of Anguilla continues to be the main topic of discussion. I am mindful and deeply concerned about the level of risk and exposure that this presents to our elderly population here at home. The Centre for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States notes several risk factors associated with COVID-19 and older persons. According to the CDC, persons in their 50s, 60s and 70s are at higher risk of developing serious illness due to COVID-19 – with the highest risk among persons 85 years and older. Pre-existing and underlying conditions are also significant contributors to the death toll among elderly persons from COVID-19 globally.
It is therefore incumbent on us to do all in our power to raise awareness about the Coronavirus among our elderly population, how it is spread, the risk factors, and the actions that we must take to prevent exposure. This is a serious undertaking and will require everyone’s participation, and the resources necessary, to maintain robust preventative measures.
I recently spent some time at our hospital and noticed that many of our elderly are being cared for at this institution. The cost of healthcare is a significant burden, particularly during this time of economic hardship and long term unemployment. Subsidizing the high cost of healthcare, inclusive of medical procedures, laboratory testing, medications and hospital stays, is something we must address.
There are several households in Anguilla that are occupied by the elderly. Many children bear the responsibility of being the primary caregiver in most cases, and of dealing with many stresses as a result. The reopening of Anguilla now adds another layer of worry, as tourism sector workers must come home to elderly parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles who are at higher risk if exposed to COVID-19. I believe that it is therefore necessary to embark on an awareness campaign to educate these primary caregivers on additional steps that they can take to reduce the risk of exposure. We must remember that the virus can easily be spread by persons who are asymptomatic (not showing symptoms). We must not let down our guard. This is a time when our country needs to come together to do all that we can to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Many will have noticed in the last couple of weeks a shift in the narrative from Anguilla being “COVID-19 free” to learning how to “co-exist” with COVID-19. This has sparked much debate locally about our timeline for reopening, our capacity to handle the influx of visitors and repatriated citizens, and our level of preparedness to handle a worst case scenario. Relying on the science and the experts is part of the process, and is something that I also support. However, consultation with the people is necessary to achieve buy-in and ownership of the process that will unfold. We must not underestimate the value that our population brings to the decision making process, particularly those that live, eat and breathe tourism and have spent many years in the service sector. Simply passing information in a top-down model does not provide the conditions for effective and efficient consultation. We must allow our people to share their views and opinions in an open and transparent manner. We may be surprised at the ideas which may be derived from such an exercise.
I urge all Anguillians to be aware of the risks that this reopening exercise has created, educate yourselves on the steps you must take to protect your loved ones – and be vigilant to ensure that those entrusted with the power to make decisions are doing so in the best interests of all our people.
