SANCHO, JOHNNA MICOL R.

SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, AND SOCIETY

SEC-8

“The COVID-19 pandemic reflects the reality that the positive effects of science and
technological advancements are only accessible to the privileged few.”

Before anything else, let us first describe what this pandemic is. Coronavirus
Disease (COVID-19) is a recent strain that was found in 2019 and was not previously
known in humans. Coronaviruses are zoonotic, which means they are spread between
animals and humans. The Virus has triggered an epidemic to humanity nearly all over
the globe in which we live. Because of the spread of COVID-19 to various nations,
authorities across the globe have agreed to lock down every location to prevent the
spread of the disease and every hospital center has been recommended to support
patients in need of check-ups and other health services. Indeed, it's a smart idea for
community health services to support residents during this epidemic, but think about
those that can't access medical services, those that need to be prioritized but are not
offered treatment because they don't have much to offer like the people that are
privileged enough to afford such medical help.

There are locations in the Philippines that offers free health services but not all
places. The pandemic requires people to adopt certain preventive methods to prevent
the infection from spreading, such as hand washing, avoiding touching their own eyes
and face, using hand sanitizers or alcohol, and even remaining at home for safety
purposes. A lot of people are arguing to just follow what the government is implying for
them to do, and to also cooperate with them, but not all people are fortunate to have
such shelter to live in, to purchase substitute care supplies such as alcohols or
disinfectants, money to buy additional food supplies for their families, money itself, and
so on. These people tend to try more, to work more for their families to raise enough
money and purchase enough supplies, to be able to visit care centers for check-ups and
medications, but to be held back just because they are not allowed to go outside. Most
government-funded care services have insufficient drug supplies and facilities for
patients, making it possible for certain underprivileged people in need of better medical
attention to consult private hospitals but some of these individuals do not have enough
funds to pay private hospitals for these centers are complete with its amenities. This
causes into more panic for those who are less fortunate. Therefore, in fact, as described
in the statement, the advances in science and technology that we have in our days are
only relevant to the privileged.