Gosh! What a year this has been, make no mistake. I usually have a lot of fun with my last column of the year, a few chuckles at the expense of my friends and colleagues, but honestly, it doesn’t feel quite so right this time around, so I’m just going to make some comments on 2021, and celebrate the extraordinary commitment of some of those around us.
First and foremost, a massive hand must go out to the Sultanate of Oman, and particularly those with responsibility for the management of the pandemic. It is clear that when the pandemic hit, many Omanis didn’t see and appreciate the dangers, and were ignorant, lackadaisical, and careless in their observance of the precaution, to the cost of many... too many. But... to give the population their due, and thanks to the persistence of the authorities, it is clear great strides have been made during the most recent months. So, well done Sultanate of Oman. This may not be over yet, but you have done so well.
Credit for the turnaround must go to Dr Ahmed Al Saidi, Minister of Health, and his team, as collectively, at times during the last 18 months, their frustration must have been intense as they appeared to be faced with an apathetic response. Their preparedness, testing, tracing, isolation policies, surveillance, expertise, logistics, implementation, and recovery planning demonstrate a healthy awareness of the challenges they have faced, and their awareness of what lies ahead as they aim for a sustained quality of life, “Living with Covid-19 on long run with minimal impact on life, and health.”
The health sector too has responded above and beyond their calling, in working extended hours, placing themselves at risk to keep their patients safe, and healthy, and those of us working elsewhere in society can only be in awe of their contributions. I believe a grateful population and government, if unable to financially reward the entire frontline health sector, should at least strike a medal of distinction to recognize their efforts.
Education has been significantly affected. However, no criticism can be levelled at teachers, who have gone above and beyond their educational remit in embracing the concepts and practices of online learning. They have been brilliant! Now let’s hope their educational administrators, who have done comparatively little, not only get learners back to the classroom, but ensure the ‘lost’ learning, is made up for.
Socially, for all of us, a new ‘normal’ has inveigled its way into our psycho-social behavior, as whatever someone once said, silence is not golden, and in the words of John F Kennedy, “Conformity is freedom’s jailer, and the enemy of growth.” We have all been tested and challenged, we have been restricted, locked down, locked out, masked and isolated, and we are human... none of those situations are natural to us, so some of us are either found wanting, hurting, or lonely, and often, reaching out is the hardest thing to do. Professor Brene Brown says, “Many of us are willing to lend a hand, but are reluctant to reach out when we ourselves need help.” We need to accept that we are all both needy and needed, and to be there for each other.
Vishal, Yesha, Abdullah, Asim, Khalfan, Mila, Mohamed, Sulieman, Shadha, Aisha, Serge, Chahrazed, Ali, Captain, Ghada, Vijay, GM, Andrew, May, Mathys, Nazier, Nigel, Khalfan, Juliet, Gosia, and so many others and all your families, stay safe, be well, and let’s hope that as we usher in 2022, we do so, knowing that we are much stronger than we ever knew we were.
God bless you all, friends, colleagues, readers, and strangers too... and maybe we can get back to some humor next New Year. In the meantime, if I continue comfort eating, my shirt buttons will soon be socially distanced too!
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