By Abdellatif Ouahbi
One year has passed since Morocco detected the first COVID-19 case in the country (March 2020).
Throughout that year, the battle against the Covid-19 pandemic has swept the entire world, leading countries to review their perceptions of progress and well-being, while causing people and nations to change their priorities in life as a whole.
The pandemic has caused the world to live a moment of critical awareness similar to the one that followed the end of World War II. Several countries – such as the US – were believed to be immune to such a pandemic outbreak given their high standards; however, the situation that the virus led to in these countries raised a sense of pity and solidarity everywhere. Meanwhile, a series of countries with poor or (somehow) doubtful economic and administrative structures have gained praise and acknowledgment for their efforts in managing the pandemic crisis, such as Morocco for instance.
The Covid-19 pandemic has turned into a narcissistic wound that tends to shake the essence of modern industrial civilization, which is likely to bring upon a more rational approach stipulating that progress and modernity are mainly based on the fact that “truth is relative, and man is the measure of all things”, as ancient Greeks believed once. This wound has been affecting individuals and groups alike, requiring them to root for an industrial and technological development that is based on ethical and cultural foundations, provided that the priority at this stage shall be given to the health and educational sectors, as well as interconnectedness and coexistence values, as they make the perfect ground for a healthy urban community.
Morocco, unlike many developed countries, was able to emerge victorious upon its battle with Covid-19 pandemic (against all odds). Between the pandemic outbreak in our country and the launch of the vaccination campaign, Morocco has managed to achieve positive results, for the number of infections among citizens has been reduced to a minimum, while the economic and social repercussions have been limited to a few sectors.
Morocco has launched a series of initiatives as part of HM’s brave management of the crisis, by adopting a proactive strategic policy that helped our country “dodge the bullet” in terms of losing precious lives and enduring other economic and social consequences due to the quarantine. In addition, Morocco has managed to secure a big number of vaccination kits from other countries and decided to generalize them to cover all social components (free of charge), despite the international narcissist race to obtain these vaccines. The kingdom has also established several administrative, political, economic and financial mechanisms in order to reduce the disastrous effects of the epidemic on people’s lives, in accordance with HM’s guidelines. Such policy has mobilized all material, symbolic, administrative, financial, human and organizational capabilities, to win the battle against a virus that modern science deems able to spread rapidly and take lives.
As the pandemic hit hard, the people of Morocco realized that they are in a race against time, and that such difficult circumstances dictate believing in their own abilities and making good use of their proper potentials, at a time where the rest of the world forgot all about solidarity values, and chose to deal with matters singularly rather than collectively. In light of the above, it became quite obvious that in order to increase their chances to emerge victorious from their battle against the epidemic, societies shall work on establishing legitimate institutions that are capable of protecting citizens and ensuring their safety.
In light of the horror caused by the pandemic outbreak, the people of Morocco recalled the effective role that the kingdom’s leadership can play in dealing with this matter, and that the odds for emerging victorious are actually higher than some would think, for all Moroccans stand together as a nation against any potential threats. Meanwhile, it is safe to say that the main key to victory against the pandemic lies in HM’s guidance all along; that is to say, as the future seemed shady, the people kept believing in their king and in the legitimacy of the kingdom’s institutions. In fact, stats stipulate that the countries that have suffered the most due to the pandemic, are those with weak institutions or incompetent political leaderships.
It is true that our battle against the pandemic has revealed certain imbalances within our country’s structures, leading us to believe in the necessity to open a critical, national and democratic debate, as to address several economic and organizational matters; however, we shall acknowledge Morocco’s successful management of the crisis and consolidate such a path for future generations to look up to.
Morocco’s successful strategy against Covid-19 pandemic can be summarized in three main points: the proactive initiative favoring citizens’ lives over economic profits, the rapid reduction of the virus outbreak, and the establishment of successful mechanisms to reduce the crisis’ economic repercussions. Such achievements, however, shall be consolidated accordingly, by ensuring a rapid, yet successful vaccination campaign, while providing adequate quantities and managing all related procedures.
Morocco may have emerged victorious upon its battle against the pandemic, but reality suggests a series of disparities and imbalances that the country is required to overcome.
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Moroccan state chose to opt for an economic policy that seeks solutions rather than gains, with the purpose of ensuring standard living conditions for all citizens. This policy, however, shed light on a number of imbalances within several sectors that were unable to keep pace with Morocco’s alternatives in this regard. The Moroccan health system, for instance, would have not survived the crisis if it wasn’t for the high levels of patriotism that the medical staff has shown in the process, provided that this system in particular lacks both equipment and capabilities, and suffers a huge shortage in terms of human resources.
The pandemic effect, however, did not stop there, for it has reached other important sectors, such as education, which has suffered a series of imbalances and shortcomings, for most students were deprived of their chances to learn new skills and enrich their knowledge.
The pandemic also had a strong impact on Morocco’s cultural and artistic aspects, for there was no room left for imagination, as most creative minds were in fact restrained due to the crisis. Moreover, the situation we have been enduring stipulates the need to review our approach to scientific research, for the latter constitutes a strategic pillar that falls within Morocco’s developmental scheme.
The circumstances resulting in the pandemic bring us to believe that the best path for Morocco’s health sector can only be achieved through financial and managerial independence, provided that all efforts and capabilities would be intensified accordingly, in a way that ensures the sector’s readiness to face upcoming challenges.
Crises everywhere do not only generate issues and difficulties, for they also represent a great opportunity to raise awareness within societies in order to develop people’s potential. In light of the most recent health and economic crisis, Morocco has proven to the world its ability to emerge victorious against all odds, as well as its determination to trace its own fate.
Morocco’s successful management of the crisis lies in people’s untiring trust in the legitimacy of their institutions and the wisdom of their beloved king, for they make great contributions to our country’s construction and development process.