We live in very unusual times, but this period does bring back a constellation of memories relating to many years ago, and has prompted me to share some personal reflections of these: about what has been happening with Coronavirus and drawing some parallels together with global pandemics in recent history – most notably the HIV Pandemic that created significant levels of anxiety and trauma within my community – the LGBTQI Community.
This is necessarily brief and does not masquerade as an exhaustive scientific overview of facts for either the HIV Pandemic, or that of Coronavirus.
However, for myself, as an openly gay man, a medical doctor and someone who worked as a psychiatrist with a special interest in HIV and Gay Men’s Mental Health; I was also involved in the development of an Urgent Care Network in the UK, which was informed by the lessons learnt from the SARS epidemic so I speak with some insight.
This is a personal reflection on where we are, and I hope where we might proceed over the next few months if we are able to access clear moral and ethical leadership from our governments.
I came out in the early stages of the growing HIV epidemic, during my studies at medical school, whilst having to negotiate the intense stigma of being gay in a profession that back then, was grossly homophobic. I personally bore witness to some of the extremes of the ravages of the early HIV epidemic as I undertook my professional training in London, UK.
Currently we are seeing a global society acting without cohesion, without respect for our fellow human beings. We have seen panic stockpiling of household staples, we have seen healthcare workers being assaulted, we have seen horrible xenophobic attacks and the rise of racial hatred. Have we not learnt from the past, that hatred, division, and derision of our fellow human beings is not acceptable.
What did we experience during the inexorable rise of the HIV epidemic? We saw a marginalised community come together, we witnessed examples of heroic leadership in the face of certain ridicule or worse, we saw the rise of powerful political activism, that galvanised governments and industry to respond to a global health need.
What we need to see:
1. True moral and ethical leadership as has been shown by a few remarkable leaders leading to evidence of delays in community spread, access to medical support as required by those in the most need, and an effective flattening of the epidemiologic curves. Early activation of effective public health measures allows over stretched public health services to more effectively manage the impending requirements for specialised services.
2. Organisations providing assistance to those most in need – the elderly, the disadvantaged, those that need to shop daily and cannot stockpile – check in on your neighbours, only take what you need from grocery stores and supermarkets – Australia is a net food producer so there is lots to go around. I am delighted to see that certain companies are already beginning to do this.
3. It is also beholden on each of us to take care of our own health and to support those around us where we can – maintain social distancing and cover your nose and mouth when coughing, with your elbow, seek appropriate advice if you do display symptoms, and self-isolate if required.
4. If you do have to self-isolate heed the advice that has been published, take care of both your physical health needs, and ensure a healthy diet and keep up with your fluids.
5. But the greatest challenge will be managing the social isolation and the impact that this will have on one’s mental health – social media and modern technology can to some extent minimise the effects of being alone – keep in touch with family and friends and maintain an active mind.
6. For those of us that know friends in isolation – a daily phone call and check in can be wonderful gesture – hearing a human voice is so much better than an electronic jingle.
We will all get out of this, but let’s keep a perspective on reality, and come together as a global community to create a better world and learn from what we have done well and what we could have done better.
Take care and be safe
