n the course of human history, epidemics have been responsible for millions of deaths. In the plague epidemic between 1346 and 1350, Europe lost half its population. Recently, the Covid-19 pandemic appeared as a major infectious disease. Epidemics have devastating impacts on human lives, causing destruction to long-term social and economic development. Global health crises threaten to overwhelm already overloaded health systems, upset global supply chains and damage the livelihoods of people, including women and children, in the most vulnerable countries.

Established by the UN General Assembly, the International Day of Epidemic Preparedness is observed on December 27 to promote global awareness and collaboration in addressing future epidemics.

The Covid-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for sustainable health systems capable of responding speedily to emerging threats. Epidemic preparedness requires coordinated global efforts that include raising public awareness, sharing scientific knowledge and ensuring that vulnerable populations are not left behind. This day encourages countries, organisations and individuals to engage in education and advocacy to strengthen health systems and promote effective epidemic response strategies.

The International Day of Epidemic Preparedness aligns with several Sustainable Development Goals by promoting global health and reducing inequalities in health care access. SDG 3, 10 and 17, ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages, with a focus on epidemic prevention and response; ensuring access to essential health services, especially for vulnerable populations; and building partnerships to combat epidemics worldwide.

International cooperation and multilateralism play an important role in the response to epidemics. There is a need to stress the significance of partnership and solidarity among individuals, communities, states and regional and international organisations at all stages of epidemic management, as well as the importance of considering a gender perspective in this regard.

The National Preparedness Goal, defined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency-USA, describes five mission areas i.e., prevention, protection, mitigation, response and recovery. Prevention steps include hand hygiene, respiratory hygiene, personal protective equipment, needle-stick and sharps injury prevention, aseptic technique and safe hospital waste disposal. It is a global health challenge, especially faced by women, who make up the majority of the world’s health workers.

On the International Day for Epidemic Preparedness, Pakistan stands with the global community to emphasise the critical importance of collective readiness to combat health emergencies.

In the absence of international attention, future epidemics could surpass previous outbreaks in intensity and gravity.

Approximately 100-400 million people worldwide are affected by epidemics each year. Dengue fever is endemic in more than 100 countries, including Pakistan. There is substantial evidence that its multiple serotypes are circulating in various regions of the country. Hepatitis - especially Hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) - is a major public health crisis in Pakistan, with high prevalence rates making it a global hotspot, particularly for HCV. Its key drivers include unsafe injections, blood transfusions and poor hygiene, leading to significant mortality. Pakistan is committed to its elimination, with national programmes aiming to screen millions and provide treatment. However, it faces challenges such as funding, data gaps and the implementation of preventive measures, including safe syringes and awareness campaigns.

The World Health Organisation, in a 2022 report, noted that Pakistan continues to be affected by massive monsoon rainfall and unprecedented flooding. The WHO warns of significant public health threats facing affected populations, including the risk of further spread of water- and vector-borne diseases such as malaria and dengue fever. The impact of the heavy monsoon rains, which began in mid-July 2022, affected 33 million people across 116 districts, with 66 districts hardest hit. Ongoing disease outbreaks in Pakistan, including acute watery diarrhea, dengue fever, malaria, hepatitis A and E infections and polio, are being further aggravated, particularly in sites where water and sanitation facilities have been damaged.

In June 2022, Pakistan experienced devastating floods that affected millions of people. It caused epidemics of cholera, cryptosporidiosis, rotavirus infections, generalised diarrhea, typhoid and paratyphoid fevers and raised the frequency of vector-borne diseases, including malaria and dengue fever. This shows the obstacles faced by the central and provincial governments that must be overcome to manage these health emergencies and offer possible solutions to reduce the effects of ongoing and anticipated epidemics.

In a message, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged, “All nations need to invest in resilience and equity to make a healthier and safer world for all. I call on countries to heed the lessons of past health emergencies to help prepare for the next is important to make. The crisis may have passed, but a harsh lesson remains: the world is woefully unprepared for the next pandemic. Let’s commit to working together for a safer and healthier world for everyone, everywhere.”

In the absence of international attention, future epidemics could surpass previous outbreaks in intensity and gravity. There is a need to raise awareness, exchange information, build scientific knowledge and best practices, provide quality education and implement advocacy programmes on epidemics at the local, national, regional and global levels as effective measures to prevent and respond to epidemics.

The writer, a playwright and freelance journalist, can be reached at [email protected] and his blogging site: soulandland.com