The Toughest Triage in Decision Impacts: Rethinking Scientific Evidence for Environmental and Human Health Action in the Times of Concomitant Global Crises

Raimi Morufu Olalekan^1* & Raimi Aziba-anyam Gift²

¹Department of Community Medicine, Environmental Health Unit, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria
²Entrepreneurship Development Centre, Federal University Otuoke, Nigeria

Dr. Raimi Morufu Olalekan, Department of Community Medicine, Environmental Health Unit, Faculty of Clinical Sciences, Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Keywords: Political Environments; Decision Impacts; Effective Response; Evidence Informed Approaches; SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic; Sustainable Development Goals; Implementation Science; Large-Scale Collaboration; Global Crises

Abstract

While the world remains alarmed to panic at the grip of the demonic novel COVID-19 infection, there is still plenty of bearish perception as 2020 will certainly and no doubt be etched in the minds of health-care professionals, including environmental health officers all over the globe for several years to come which is unprecedented in the modern health care setting [1,2]. While, the national response toward COVID-19 varies, from the swift and most proactive to haphazard and negligent to the worst. That nations have already managed the spread of the pandemic in a different way is expected, nonetheless COVID-19 pushes all health systems toward their limits, thereby revealing serious gaps in public health structure, even in countries that are acclaimed as the popular centers for readiness. Thus, the response toward COVID-19 shows a glaring lack of social health determinants as well as meaningful community participation and engagement on important issues in a health emergency. The COVID-19 outbreak caused through severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARSCoV-2) has adversely affected social as well as environmental health determinants and has challenged health professionals such as doctors, nurses, health workers, researchers, decision-makers and many others working in the health sector in many ways, while suspending the usual daily businesses and COVID-19 has also tested and assesses the national capacity of health systems toward withstanding health shocks while maintaining routine functions in many ways [3].

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