“The Human Race”
This is part of a communication series to health leaders in our partner countries. (sent September, 2021)
“Beware of false knowledge; it is more dangerous than ignorance.”
Two weeks ago, World Humanitarian Day (this year’s theme #TheHumanRace) was recognized around the globe – even as humanitarian workers and donors are helping people in Haiti, Afghanistan and many other areas. This day was designated by the United Nations in 2009 in memory of the 19 August 2003 bomb attack on the Canal Hotel in Baghdad, Iraq, killing 22 people, including the chief humanitarian in Iraq, Sergio Vieira de Mello.
Today the human race continues to be threatened by the race between information and mis-information.
Information saves lives.
Mis-information kills.
This summer, U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, declared misinformation “an urgent threat to public health.” Surgeons General have traditionally used advisories (short statements meant to call Americans’ attention to a public health issue and provide recommendations for addressing it) to talk about such health matters as tobacco use and opioid addiction, suicide prevention and breastfeeding. Dr. Murthy’s advisory, a 22-page report with footnotes, called upon tech companies and other media groups to help “Stop the Spread” of misinformation.
A study by the Kaiser Family Foundation found, through May 2021, that two out of three unvaccinated adults had heard at least one Covid-19 vaccine myth and either believed it to be true or were unsure. An analysis of millions of social media posts found that false news stories were 70 percent more likely to be shared than true stories (Science Magazine).
“Put Science First” was one of the Lessons in a March, 2021 New York Times article titled “14 Lessons for the Next Pandemic” by Yale University Immunology Professor Akiko Iwasaki. It noted that one of the only “benefits” of this terrible pandemic is that it has awakened in the general public an increased appreciation of science in what some consider the Age of Anti-science.
Some Science to live by:
Approximately one out of four COVID-19 infected people have no symptoms. Because these asymptomatic individuals can still transmit the virus to other people, the use of masking and physical distancing tools makes a difference.
Since the Delta viariant is craftier, a higher level of vaccination rate is required to achieve herd immunity. Instead of ~70%, experts estimate that 80-90% is needed for the intended effect.
Lessons for Global Health Leaders
As a Leader, you deal with information. It guides how you change and help mobilize others to change.
Leaders Ask: “How do I know?”
A Leader listens to Science and data to become evidence-informed. Like good journalists, leaders scrutinize their sources to discern what is REAL science and what is truly evidence-based.
Leaders Do the Math:
Rule: The fact that nearly all (estimates are consistently in the high 90s%) of the deaths and hospitalizations from the virus are people who were unvaccinated highlights what many health professionals refer to as the “pandemic of the unvaccinated.”
Exception: Some people who are vaccinated can, have and will get COVID-19; however, people who are vaccinated who do get the virus are significantly less likely to become hospitalized or die (single digit % estimates) compared with people who are unvaccinated.
Leaders Act: A Leader stands Up … s/he does not stand By.
Because a Leader must Act, s/he works to discern the facts in order to develop sufficient confidence to support her/his Action. A Leader does not rest on the convenient and comfortable “it’s not clear” answer which some use as a license, or excuse, NOT to Act.
Leaders stand up to count and be counted; Leaders are account-able.
“An “upstander” is a person who has chosen to make a difference in the world by speaking out against injustice and creating positive change. The term, coined by now USAID head Samantha Power…has now been recognized as an official word in the English language.”
Leaders Adapt: “What did I/we learn?” Leaders evaluate and learn from their Actions. The race between information and misinformation is decided by Leadership: You.
Asante/Gracias/Merci/Misaotra/Thank you for standing up to mis-information.
Rob Thames, FACHE, FHFMA, Director, GHAP (Global Health Administration Partners)