Covid-19 is an object lesson that drives home the tenets of Royal Wellness International(RWI). A reality check indeed!

When our health is threatened the way we’re experiencing with the pandemic of covid-19, it becomes apparent that what we call health can as well be substituted with life.

Coming out of this experience will elevate the phrase, “health is wealth” from mere slogan or cliche to the position where it belongs originally. There’s no questioning now that our greatest asset is embodied in our state of health and wellbeing. We must therefore begin to invest in people’s wellbeing above anything else. There must be a visible reflection in appropriations at every level of human governance, be it at home, work, community, municipality, State, or National landscape. It can no longer be business as usual.

Everything is at a standstill with the global threat of this highly infectious and lethal virus. The global economy plummeted to an all time low, dashing the hopes of billion investors in their accumulated riches and earthly treasures.

Human wisdom in science, technology and medicine has been proven inadequate as confusion fills the air with all kinds of conspiracy theories. The hearts of men are failing literally and metaphorically or symbolic. There’s fear, panic, chaos, turmoil, and uncertainty all around. The blame game and political calculations have taken center stage of national and international discusses.

Suddenly, it’s dawning on us that nations around the world have so much more in common than things that divide us. Covid-19 has no respect for rich or poor, developed, developing or underdeveloped nations, educated or illiterate, elite ruling class or the commoners, free or bond, male or female, Christian, Jew, Catholic, Protestant, Hindu, Muslim, Atheist or what have you. It becomes obvious that the need of everyone is the same. The right to life, liberty, health, basic infrastructure of water, light and roads, clean air, food, and security.

The interdependency of institutions on various national landscapes and determinants on the health of the individual as well as the sovereign nation is well documented in my presentation at the 9th Annual Professor Grillo Memorial Alumni Lecture in 2016 titled, “ One Incredibly Healthy Body: Indivisible and Intricately Linked to Self and Society”. There, I espoused the central role our health and wellbeing play in the growth of every nation. I pray that we can honestly, revisit these fundamentals and start charting a truly global sustainable path in realizing the goals of eradicating poverty and hunger, promoting planetary integrity and closing disparities in gender and healthcare accessibility which are cardinal components of the United Nations sustainable developmental goal(SDG) initiative, 2030. Unfortunately, in the wake of the setback caused by this unexpected covid-19 plague, we have a lot of catch up to do.

We must begin earnest conversations among all stakeholders and start formulating practical steps from the wealth of available evidence based best practices. If not now, when?

Alaba Fawole