With a massive outbreak of Covid-19 global pandemic now imminent in Maldives and with the Capital City under a lockdown, Health Protection Agency’s daily briefings have become the most accurate source of information for most of us.
Especially since authorities moved these daily briefings online after the lockdown of Male’ City, these conferences have been a beacon of hope and also serve as a stark remainder that worst is yet to come.
So when a lot of us settled into watch the briefing, little did we know that we were about to witness such an appalling act of xenophobia and the beautiful gesture that followed to show that such acts are unacceptable.
Most of us leaned forward in our seats when the ‘Journalist’ from an online media started his question with a racial slur by referring to expat workers as ‘Bangaalhess’, a term used casually by Maldivians to describe foreign workers in the country.
But little did we expect Health Protection Agency HPA’s Medical Officer Dr. Fathimath Nazla Rafeeq to interrupt the journalist and let it be known that such behavior wont be tolerated even as the country faces an unprecedented challenge.
“Errm..Excuse Me,” she said before going onto remind the reporter that all of us are human beings and should be respected as such and that this respect should be given when journalists pose questions on the matter.
She answered the unjustified question saying that the country’s Public Health Protection Act does not only call for the protection of Maldivians but all those living within the borders of the country.
Social Media flooded with admiration for the doctor’s simple yet profound gesture. Reminding us that such racial slurring is not to be tolerated in our society.
But the reporter’s question is just the tip of the iceberg. When HPA announced 13 Bangladeshi nationals had contracted Covid-19 having lived in congested quarters, the sentiments online were more than just hateful but downright criminal. Social media post in recent days highlighted that expat delivery workers have faced harassment and abuse from the patrons of Male’, having carried bags and bags of groceries up narrow staircases.
But the mistreatment and unjust profiling of expat workers in Maldives have always been a taboo issue. Most of us are guilty of treating expat workers as second-class citizens, verbally and at time physically abusing them without thinking twice. While expat workers from neighboring countries travel to Maldives to better their lives, some have become victims of human trafficking with their passports and documents confiscated by the so called agents who bring them into the country.
Government officials had identified that in case of a community spread of Covid-19, the expat workers living in congested quarters in Male’ would be most vulnerable to the illness. This has proven the case with 14 Bangladeshis living in the same quarters testing positive for the virus.
But this does not give anyone the license to issue racial sentiments and incite hateful comments against the foreign workers. Nor is it time to point fingers and throw accusations at the expat workers saying that they would spread the illness to most in the country.
Again the much admired Dr. Nazla pointed out that the expat community in Male’ can accuse that a Maldivian had transmitted the contagious disease to them instead of the other way around.
While NEOC Spokesperson Mohamed Mabrouk Azeez had taken center stage in the government’s efforts against Covid-19, Dr. Nazla’s popularity had soared in the recent weeks. First after a ridiculous twitter post about the physical appearance of the country’s top epidemiologist had made rounds on social media, Maldivian rallied behind the doctor sending out virtual hugs and love to Dr. Nazla.
But last night’s inspiring gesture from Dr. Nazla has more singing her praise on social media and rightly so.
Since then Maldives Media Council has announced that it will be accrediting local journalists for proper qualification and knowledge.
