Eloquent impressions of how to build back fairer in a post-pandemic world

Do you know how the days of our week came to be named? I didn’t until this week. Yesterday I was thinking what a great week last week had been, although, in parts it was very busy. I’m certain my walking miles will be fewer this week than most weeks. For me, Wednesday was the most delightful day of the week, and as I was thinking about this, I suddenly wondered how our days got their names. In the land of Google, it is of course easy to find out the answer.

Apparently, during the fifth and sixth centuries (AD) the Anglo-Saxons brought both their gods and language to the UK. In so doing they gave us Saturday, Sunday and Monday named after Saturn, the Sun and Moon respectively. The following four days are named after gods worshipped by the Anglo-Saxons – Tuesday was Tiw (the god of warfare), Wednesday was Woden (the god of eloquence), Thursday is Thunor’s day (the god of thunder), and Friday, which is the only day named after a female god, Frig (the god of love and sex). So that’s the history lesson over and done with, but before we go, I want to say that last week, Wednesday lived up to its name. I met (well if virtual meetings still count as having met someone), a young lady who spoke with great power and passion in delivering her message very clearly and strongly. I have to say, I was totally impressed. More of which in a moment.

First, did you see the story of Vanessa Reiser last week? What a woman. I simply loved her story, and even more the picture of her taken by George Pejoves. For me it captured her passion, sense of freedom and courage. Vanessa found herself living in an abusive relationship. Her abuser was narcissistic; someone who showered her with affection, only to then destroy her with his abusive behaviour. She was due to marry this man, and had even brought her wedding dress. He, despite asking her to marry him, used the threat of leaving her as his abuse control over her. Her abuse experience was a cycle of idolisation, devaluing and unkindness over and over again.   

Vanessa eventually decided to end the relationship and instead of walking down the aisle, put her wedding dress on and ran some 275 miles across New York to raise money for domestic abuse charities and to raise awareness of abuse. Hotels and restaurants supported her every step of the way. Over two weeks she ran nearly 24 miles a day wearing her wedding dress, raising nearly £8,000 for these charities. I was totally impressed.

But back to last Wednesday and the other young lady who impressed me. It was a heck of a day. My first meeting was an early morning Zoom catch up call. Then it was on to a PhD viva. It is always a privilege to do a PhD examination, and this was no exception. The student’s study looked at patients in mental health secure units in Ghana who had self-harmed. It was both a wonderful conversation and I am sure his research will have a positive impact on individuals here and in Ghana. I was totally impressed.

My next meeting was one facilitated by the folk at NHS Providers. Their analysis of current and emergent health care policy is second to none. Their review was brilliant, provocative and informative. Given the rapid changes that had occurred the previous weekend, coupled with that empty CEO seat waiting to be filled at NHS England, it was a remarkable piece of work. I was totally impressed.  

The penultimate meeting last Wednesday was a celebration of Manchester becoming a Marmot City Region. Sadly because of the prevailing Covid restrictions, it was a virtual meet up. However, it didn’t detract from the enormity of the moment. Michael Marmot himself chaired proceedings with the indefatigable Andy Burnham, Mayor of Manchester, co-presenting. The afternoon saw the publication of research undertaken by the Institute of Health Equity, at the University College London. Mirroring Marmot’s other work, the report (here) focuses on six key themes to build back fairer in a post-pandemic world. These areas will come as no surprise to those folk who know of the deep-seated and lasting problems of poverty and inequalities experienced by so many living in and around Greater Manchester. The six themes are: communities and places, housing, transport and the environment; early years, children and young people; income, poverty and debt; work and unemployment; public health. Whilst the report focused on the Greater Manchester region, there are clear messages to the rest of the UK that far more governmental effort is required to develop (and fund) policies that address those social determinates that can have such a damaging impact on peoples health. Perhaps with a new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, and a new CEO for the NHS, there is a chance that change might be possible.

What Andy Burnham does so well is to always give a voice to those most impacted by the issues being discussed. At last Wednesday’s event, this belonged to a young lady called Shekinnah Wilberforce. Among the great and the good, she was the absolute star of the afternoon. She spoke of her experience of living through the pandemic. She talked of the anxiety it had brought, the uncertainty she and other young people had felt, and how that had impacted upon their health and wellbeing. It was hard to listen to. However, she also spoke of hope, of positivity, of new opportunities. Someone tried to label this as ‘post-traumatic growth’. I don’t like labels. I think whatever the day of the week, Shekinna would be able to speak with such eloquence and determination about how we all have a part to play in creating a better, fairer world to live in. The young people of today are all our futures, and I was equally totally impressed by this young lady.