Leadership- Surmounting COVID-19

“Every one of you is a shepherd and is responsible for his flock.” This precise and concise

definition of leadership was delineated by our beloved Prophet P.B.U.H. Four lessons are

learned from this meaningful elucidation:

 Heading by example which a leader inspires others to do good deeds for the benefit of

people.

 Leader is expected to show compassion and empathy.

 He gives moral support needed to his people.

 Leader is responsible, dedicated, and consistent in carrying out his duties in protecting

the interest and dignity of his people.

 Leader is accountable for what he does and should be able to give agreeable reason

for it.

Leadership could relate to political, business, community, religion, sports, and others.

However, in the context of COVID-19, it is the political leadership which matters. Beside

leadership qualities, it also necessitates the management traits to prevail over the pandemic.

Strong personal character attributes are essential in a leader or a manager, which may

generally include:

1. Courage- does not hesitate from challenging or demanding situations and speaks for

what is right.

2. Creativity- thinks of many different ways to solve problems.

3. Loyalty- stays true through difficult times.

 4. Honesty- speaks truthfully, acts sincerely, takes responsibility for actions and even

failures.

5. Self-regulation- controls emotions and sticks to decisions. Disciplined.

6. Forgiveness- accepts shortcomings of others. Gives second chances.

7. Compassion- thinks how others are feeling.

8. Intelligent- learns quickly and thinks for better situations.

9. Determination- focuses on goals and works hard to achieve them.

Leading and management are different in the sense that leaders have people to follow them

while managers who work for them. A successful political leader needs to be both a strong

leader and an effective manager, as he has people with him who believe in his vision to work

with him, to achieve his objectives, while he also manages people who work for him about

administration and making sure that day-to-day things are happening as they should.

Essential traits necessary for a good leader or a manager are mostly overlapping, as the

ultimate target is to reach the preset destination.

However, there are many vivid differences between leaders and managers.

1. Leaders consider the team with homogenous qualities and consider all capable of

doing any assigned jobs, but manager knows the heterogenous characters of their

people. They play like chess and know the competence and expertise of their people

and allocate responsibly accordingly. Right man for the right job.

2. Leaders set vision but managers set goals. Leader paint a picture of what they see as

possible and inspire people in turning that vision into a reality. They think beyond

what individuals do. Managers focus on setting, measuring, and achieving a goal.
3. Leaders are a change agent, but managers maintain the status quo.

4. Leaders have innovation as their mantra; they embrace change even if things are

going smooth. They would always be for a better way. Managers stick to what works,

refining the system and improving the process.

5. Leaders are unique but managers are copies. Leaders are willing to be themselves,

make their own unique and personal brands. Managers mimic their competencies,

behave as they learn from others and adopt their style.

6. Leaders take risks but managers control risks. Leaders are willing to try new things,

new ideas, and many failures, as they know failures are often a step to success.

Managers work to minimize risk and seek to avoid problems.

7. Leaders are in it for the long haul, but mangers think about the short run. Leaders stay

motivated towards bigger, diverse goals. Managers work for shorter goals, seeking

more regular acknowledgement.

8. Leaders grow personally but managers rely on existing proven skills. Leaders would

be learning new things on a daily basis. Managers double down on what made them

successful, preferring existing skills.

9. Leaders build relationships while managers build systems and processes. Leaders

focus on people in order to realize their vision. They build loyalties and trust by

delivering on their promises. Managers focus on structure necessary to set and

achieve goals, assured systems are in place to achieve desired outcomes, work with

individuals, their goals, and objectives.

 10. Leaders coach but managers direct. Leaders know that the people who work with

them are able to find them and are competent and optimistic about their potential.

Managers assign tasks and provide guidance on how to accomplish them.

11. Leaders create fans but managers have employees. Leaders have their followers who

are their fans and promoters helping them build their brand and achieve their dreams,

helping them increase their credibility. Managers have staff who follow their direction

and seek to please the boss.

All of the above boils down to only one single trait – be it a leader or a manager- sincerity,

the basic obligation, very common but not commonly available. Sincerity to the cause,

sincerity to people, sincerity to country makes any leader a great one.

COVID-19

Nature has put the global leadership under a trial. Great leaders who have put their countries

to great heights in technological and economical development have no clue how to handle the

virus, which has virtually crippled the world. The virus, a pandemic labelled as COVID-19,

made a devastating impact on social, economic, and medical lives of humanity. No definite

treatment has yet been invented, except social distancing, in view of its contagious nature. On

the other hand, social distancing negative impacts economic areas, thus making it mutually

exclusive where COVID-19 is controlled by keeping people at home, which would close

down economic activities and vice versa.

It was end December 2019 when a novel Coronavirus, with severe respiratory syndrome, was

identified as the cause of an outbreak in China. This virus spread fast but March 2020. It

enveloped almost the entire world when World Health Organization (WHO) declared it a

pandemic, when over 940,000 cases were reported positive. By 12th August 2020, a total

20.64 million cases were reported, with 13.55 million recovered and 0.75 million deaths. By
this time, Pakistan has 285,921 infected, out of which 263,193 recovered and 6,129 lost the

fight.

Direct person-to-person transmission remains the primary means of COVID-19 spread with

high risk. Virus of heavily contaminated surfaces may be another source of infection if

susceptible individuals touch such surfaces with low risk. Older people, especially those with

cardiovascular risk-factor, diabetes, hypertension, and obesity have been identified as

vulnerable.

A recent study at the Kings College, London, two main distinct type diseases involving

clusters of symptoms, such as fever, cough, loss of sense of smell and taste, headache,

shortness of breath, and chest pain are considered low-risk with 4% needing breathing

apparatus. If the above symptoms also add diarrhea and shortness of breath, then high risk

with around 20% needed breathing apparatus.

There is yet no specific treatment for the disease caused by the novel Coronavirus. However,

many of the symptoms can be treated based on the patient’s condition, as the virus has not

been previously identified in humans. The more we know and understand this coronavirus,

the easier it is to avoid it and to treat.

Development of new vaccine for COVID-19 is proceeding at a furious pace. Two vaccines

are in Phase-3 trials in the USA and Europe (Moderna and Oxford University). Thousands of

people would be vaccinated to see the result, as to how many get infection. If it works, then

large-scale production starts. Other COVID-19 vaccines are also in trials by BioNTech and

Pfizer, Sinofarm and Sinora Biotech. The normal process for vaccine testing and approval

requires three phases; in Phases 1 and 2, careful tests for safety and trying to determine the

best dose. Even if the vaccine might appear effective after two phases, the number of people

having been tested is small and needs larger numbers to be confident that the vaccine worked,
which is known as Phase-3. Till end July 2020, definite results are uncertain, which may take

months more.

WHO, after its emergency meeting on August 2020 to evaluate the crisis, warned that

COVID-19 pandemic was to be lengthy and the global risk level of COVID-19 to be very

high. By the end of first week of August 2020, 1.8 million patients were added and additional

40,000 deaths reported globally. WHO’s message was loud and clear for taking serious

precautions till some definite medical treatment was successfully invented. It was further

added that the COVID-19 pandemic is one big wave, not seasonal, and also warned against

complacency, since the infection does not share influenza’s tendency to follow seasons. This

virus is behaving in ways beyond human control and only concerted efforts can slow its

spread. Its curve is going up and down and the best thing to do is to flatten it. Under the

situation, social distancing, using masks, and maximum staying home is directly

proportionate to the reduction of the menace.

Local Rundown

The virus was confirmed to have reached Pakistan on 26th February 2020 and, as of 12th

August 2020, 285,921 cases have been reported, with recovery of 263,193 patients and 6,129

deaths. By this date, 721 cases were added and 17 died in the last 24 hours. During the third

week of June 2020, daily additions of cases was peaking at 6,500; however, this figure started

showing a downward trend from third week of July 2020. The reduction trend continued and,

by the end of first week of August 2020, figure reached as low as 548 reported in a day. By

Allah’s blessing, the recovery rate reached up to 93% and case fatality rate stood at 2.14%

compared to the global average of 3.7% (these figures correspond to 7th August 2020).

Some experts suggest that the fall in number of COVID-19 cases could be due to fewer tests.

However, the falling number of deaths could counter this argument as fatal cases are fairly
documented. It cannot be denied that Pakistan has come up quite successful in meeting the

solitary challenges put forward by COVID-19. The lower trend could also be attributed to an

unknown immunity, unique to our people; this theory is not yet proven. Daily testing was

planned earlier, as 100,000 which actually remained around 25% of this figure. The sense of

security presently prevailing in people would only be authenticated if daily testing was

carried out at the planned level.

Since the downwards trend reflected the success of the Government, but depending upon the

uncertain of the pandemic, government must not become complacent. It warrants thorough

examination, which is only possible through regulation collection and analysis of data.

Government Retort

The unparalleled and unheard nature of COVID-19 has put the entire world in a fix. Even

after spending of billions of dollars, no definite clue is yet available. No direct or absolute

action was perceptible to combat the pandemic. The only guidance available was social

distancing and aloofness in view of the contagious character of the virus. Medical experts

were all for this at all cost to save lives.

At government level, besides lives, the economic factor was also importance, as a large

portion of the population lives below the poverty line and is working on a daily-wage basis.

Therefore, different propositions were under considerations- lockdown, smart lockdown,

allowing business activities with strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), wait and

analyze available data. Government was not in favor of complete lockdown, which would be

a heavy blow and may cause serious financial distress to poor and daily-wage workers. This

aspect was a great concern to the government.

Though difficult, the government chose the middle path, vis-à-vis:

 1) The localities with a large number of known infected persons to follow lockdown by

shuttered-down and restricting entry and exit. Some Non-Government Organizations

(NGOs) and government agencies carried out the distribution of essential items for

relief in such localities.

2) Comparative safe areas were allowed business activities for essential commodities

and movement of people, having laid down SOPs.

3) Needy families were provided with cash assistance.

Government is particularly hampered in its ability to deal with COVID-19 by social, political,

and cultural context of the country. Resistance created by community dynamics, local

religious beliefs, political instability, economic fragility, and somewhat lack of trust in

government and institutions, together with deficit of coordination between center and

provinces- yet thoughtful move of the move of the government brought impressive outcome.

This surprised not only our medical community but the world in general.

Corresponding Consolations

Our economic indicators were giving bleak signals even before the pandemic, which

worsened with the spread of the virus. Under the situation, a steel-frame leadership was the

need of the day. When around 25% of the people are barely providing necessary food to their

families, a long lockdown might create a havoc. Realizing the sufferings of poor people, the

government came up with Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program on 1st April 2020. The Program

planned to cover 12 million families with PKR 12,000 per family, having a total budget of

PKR 144 billion. The system was convenient, as one has to send his CNIC number to “8171,”

which would check his eligibility to benefit from the initiative and, upon verification, would

guide the person to collect the amount from the designated point.
The helpline center at the National Emergency Operations Center for Polio Eradication in

Islamabad was expanded to Sehat Tahafuz “1166” - COVID-19. The Center is increasingly

becoming an important platform to listen to the concerns of people, provide correct

information, and connect them to a doctor when required. It provides help on a 24/7 basis at

“1166” and doctors provide guidance as necessary. The Center receives 70,000 calls per day.

The Coronavirus testing capacity has been increased from 30,000 to 280,000 and would be

enhanced to 900,000 in the coming months.

Extended lockdown to reduce COVID-19 transmission is creating a lag in economic activities

and creates a drag for revenue, with growth turning negative from March 2020. On the other

hand, the induced slump in the commercial sectors and rise in unemployment created a need

for greater expenditures. The government announced a PKR 1.30 trillion stimulus package,

consisting of targeted handouts and sector-specific outlays for agricultural, construction and

exports sectors. This may give much-needed relief to individuals and businesses.

To ensure food security, government plans to temporarily abolish all taxes on food items and

has earmarked a sum of PRK 50 billion for utility stores to ensure constant availability of

food and other necessities. Further, an amount of PKR 280 billion has been allocated to

ensure wheat farmers do not face cash flow problems and to smooth wheat procurement. The

monthly stipend of PKR 2,000 under the Benazir Income Support Program has been

increased to PKR 3,000. Similarly, payment of utility bills was eased out/deferred. All the

benevolent steps have provided a big solace, especially for low-income families. To stop lay-

offs in the country and to support the employment of workers, the State Bank has introduced

a temporary re-finance scheme for businesses, called the “Re-finance Scheme for Payment of

Wages and Salaries to Workers and Employees of Business Concerns.” This scheme

provided financing of wages and salaries for three months, from April to June 2020, with a
markup of only 5% for maximum loan limit of PKR 375 million. During last August 2019, a

“Kamyab Jawan Program” was launched, under which a