Envoy Textiles Ltd 董事长Kutubuddin Ahmed 先生
5月的一天，我突然开始发低烧，同时也失去了味觉，5月21日做新冠病毒测试，结果呈阳性。之后的几天，症状没有再加重，但我不敢掉以轻心，因为冠状病毒随时会让身体状况急转直下，所以还是住进了具有供氧设备和ICU的达卡广场医院 （Square Hospital）。
以下就是我自己留医期间的心路历程。
这次住院的经历毕生难忘：那是一段没有家人陪伴、见不到朋友、甚至没有探视者的日子。这样的日子如此煎熬，却无可奈何。慢慢地，我让自己的心平静下来，尝试着去重新发现和理解生命的意义。
新冠肺炎病人病症各异，从肌肉疼痛到呼吸困难都有，有些病人甚至集中了各种病症，病毒入侵的程度取决于每个人自身的免疫力。对我来说，隔离的折磨更甚于身体的痛楚。没有什么比孤独地过日子更令人倍感压力的了！另一个问题就是焦虑。身体和精神的虚弱感牢牢地抓住你，你会感觉到身体有一些言辞无法形容的行为和莫名的反应。
我尽量不让自己闲着，为此我调整了自己的生活节奏：在医院病房里，我跟家人电话沟通、回复短信、在病房里散步、跟病友聊天，以及祈祷。每天，我还花很多的时间跟自己的内心对话，不让自己纠结于被病毒感染的沮丧中。
在这段困难的日子里，我默默许愿：未来，我一定在慈善事业上走得更远；我已经定下了具体计划，待时机成熟就公之于众。我想为我的同胞尽一份力，帮助他们改善生活。我知道富裕阶层已开始站出来，向被边缘化的社群伸出了援手；如果富人们可以连手共同帮助穷人，那将事半功倍。现在疫情的大爆发，让成千上万的人丢了工作，贫穷人口数量在不断上升。每每想着水深火热中的同胞，我的心就往下沉。同时，我祈祷上苍保佑我的家人，还有SHELTECH和ENVOY的每一位员工。
疫情爆发后，我们都在反思社会的卫生体系状况。我知道孟加拉的医疗资源匮乏，但为什么美国、意大利和西班牙的很多城市也沦陷于新冠病毒呢？背后的原因是什么？我个人认为，各国领导人对公共卫生的关注远远不足，他们更热衷于计算工业化和经济增长带来的进步。结果呢？不起眼的Covid-19病毒竟可以对人类张牙舞爪数月之久，病毒把发达国家与发展中国家都推上了同一艘船。
孟加拉不但医疗资源匮乏，还存在着资源管理和应用方面的不当、甚至浪费。尽管如此，抗疫的前线人员，包括医护人员、警察，还有媒体记者，都在竭尽全力；公立和私营机构也一步步地投入到对抗病毒的斗争中，尽管是杯水车薪。对于像孟加拉这样一个人口密集的国家，社会公共资源管理无疑是一个巨大挑战。我深信，尽管医疗资源有限，但只要合理分配管理，依然可以服务更多的民众。
随着新冠病毒传播的升级，我们所有人都有被感染的可能，并非每个被感染的人都需要入院治疗，卫生部门应该保证那些需要得到治疗的病人能得到应有的医治。我不需要加氧治疗，但有一些病人需要ICU治疗。我从新闻里得悉很多人得不到治疗，甚至有些人因没有得到治疗而离世。我听说政府正在积极加速扩充供氧设备，呼吸机和隔离设施。我想越快越好吧。随着染役人数日增，我们还应该腾出更多的医院，用于新冠病人的救治。我们的卫生系统需要公营与私营机构的共同关注。现在是时候建立紧急反应机制，既要有短期应急，更要有长期计划。
我相信，全球的卫生保健系统在疫情过后将会发生翻天覆地的改变，孟加拉也不例外。每一次新的征程总是始于危机。我们需要加快行动、扩大检测。我听说快速检测只需要15-30分钟就能出结果。如果真有这样的技术，我们应该引进。最终，我们能让普罗大众都参与检测并得到治疗。
科学家们期望今年或明年能研发出疫苗。目前，很多国家都投入在疫苗的研发中，有好几个国家已进入了试用阶段。很多国家都排队等着疫苗问世，并为此支付数以十亿计的金钱。我们也应该加入，这样一旦疫苗研发出来，我们就能得到它。
此外，我们还需要在全国范围内积极的进行宣传，让民众充分了解保护措施。这样才能舒缓医疗体系的压力，同时也可以拯救更多的生命。我们应该教导人们遵从正确的卫生指引而非听信网络上的小道消息，社交网络上虚假的卫生信息会把我们带进大坑。
在有效的疫苗问世前，我们必须存活下来。我们要耐心地克服现在的困境，并计划好未来六个月的生存。我们需要缩减开支，但首先必须生存。为生存，我们必须竭尽所能。生存将会是最大的投资，也是我们的希望所在。
有危必有机，这次的疫情危机教会了我们危机管理，以及重新思考生命和环境的必要性。我们必须重新审视在医疗、教育和人道等范畴的各种抉择。利润不代表消费，相反的，它意味着公平分配和平等重组。这次的疫情大爆发，给予了我们机会跳出发展、工业化和企业增长等框架的束缚去思考生命的价值。
比起疫情下求存，发展容易得多了。仅仅达到中等收入水平是不够的；同时，我们还要提携被边缘化的那些弱势群体。我们应该更多地关注社会，把不平等最小化。我们不但要战胜病毒，我们还需要战胜饥饿。
在留医的日子里，我不时听到服装厂停业、倒闭的新闻。服装制造业为这个国家贡献了80%-85%的外汇收入，要填补这个巨大的经济损失谈何容易！遗憾的是，大量停业倒闭的服装制造业也成为公众谴责的对象。此时此刻，这个行业的企业家们需要展示出更成熟的态度。
纺织业界错失了一季的订单，而下一季的情况依旧是未知数。但这种情形不会是永久的。欧美将会重新回来采购，问题是何时开始。尽管如此，我们还是要做好继续生产的准备。对于孟加拉的企业家们来说，危机不是问题。我深信只要我们能挨过接下来的半年时间，我们的未来就会发生变化，服装行业尤甚。
我们眼下能做的就是耐心等待，并为未来做出牺牲。在我自己领导的企业里，迄今我们没有裁员，也没有取消任何应付款项；我们仅仅是把退休金的发放推迟了几个月。同时，我们正在评估公司的架构，重新调整开支，但可以肯定的是，我们不会辞退基层的员工。
我们中很多人再也回复不到疫情爆发前的生活，这成为了一种新常态，无论企业，还是个体。当下，重要的是保持住积极的心态，保持着活力！如果你畏惧恐慌，那肯定会输掉这场战役。我们是时候要为未来做好准备、储存能量、积谷防饥。
一场求生之役尚未拉开战幕，但我坚信，未来仍将属于我们。
后记：
我是一个幸运者：在生命中，每每遇到坎儿，总有朋友相助，总被上天眷顾。我是一个重视家庭的人，坚信一个人的成功除了自身的勤勉、诚信与奉献精神之外，不能没有家人的默默支持。新冠病毒“找上”了我，让我在医院休息了12天。留医的日子里，来自家人、亲朋好友与支持者问候的信息如雪片般飞至；这些饱含关爱、为我祈祷的信息每每令我热泪盈眶。留医的日子里，我还收到一个喜讯：西班牙政府授予我最高荣誉骑士勋章。我是一个有近40年哮喘病史的病人，能战胜新冠病毒实属幸运。
感谢上苍，感恩亲友、同事们的祈祷！下周，我又将重返工作岗位。
作者介绍：Kutubuddin Ahmed 先生是孟加拉知名牛仔面料企业Envoy Textiles Ltd的董事长，身兼ENVOY集团及SHELTECH集团主席，他在2020年5月感染新冠病毒，现已康复。在住院治疗期间，他写了本文，分享他与病毒抗争的经历，以及对人生意义、企业生存发展、国家经济恢复的一些感想。原文的标题是《Main fight to survival yet to begin》，译者秦刚先生经作者同意，按中文语言习惯，对部分段落进行了调整。
The attached English version:
Faith – the Light in Darkness
A Bangladeshi denim entrepreneur's insight
after being infected by COVID-19
One day in May, I had fever and lost taste. On May 21, I tested positive to Covid-19. Though I did not develop other symptoms, I dared not take it lightly. My battle against the deadly virus was not an easy one since I have been an asthma patient for almost 40 years. Worrying the virus could take a nasty turn anytime, I got admitted to the Square Hospital, where oxygen support and intensive care unit facilities are available.
The 12-day stay in hospital was significant and it will remain significant for the rest of my life.
All coronavirus patients do not show the same symptoms. I saw patients with numerous symptoms ranging from muscle pain to breathing difficulties. There were people who even had all the symptoms together. But in general, the impact of the virus depends on the immunity power of the individual.
For me, isolation was greater than the physical pain. There is nothing more stressful than living all alone. A life without family, friends or even visitors. Another issue is anxiety. Weakness gripped you both physically and mentally. There were so many indescribable physical actions and reactions– you can only feel it.
Adjusting to such a life is difficult, but what else could be done?
I tried to remain active as far as I could. I readjusted my routine to communicating with my family, replying to texts, walking inside the ward, talking to other patients and praying for all. I used to talk a lot to myself. I gave myself a lot of time instead of being obsessed with the virus infection, and tried to use the time to rediscover and understand the meaning of life. I looked back to the past, and then tried to interpret the future.
I decided to spend more on charity though I was already involved in many of those. I tailored a plan and will let others know about it if everything goes right. I want to work for my fellow countrymen so that they can improve their way of living. I am aware that the affluent have already stood by the marginalized people of society. Even then, the task would be easier if the rich could collectively lend a hand to the poor. The pandemic has wiped out jobs for millions, and the number of poor is rising. I used to think of the people and this would make me depressed every time. I prayed for my family and every employee of Sheltech and Envoy.
We are dissecting the health system since the virus outbreak, which I think is natural and logical. I know our resources are scant. But why have the USA, Italy or Spain failed? What is their reason? I think the world leaders did not consider public health as much as they were concerned over medical treatment. They only calculated progress through industrialization and growth. No one is bothered about the environment. Many of us dream of the developed world – happiness all around. But the virus has exposed the vulnerabilities – careless attitudes of the world leaders, failures, helplessness, deaths and a display of sheer chaos. The bottom line is -- none ever could imagine a virus would be so strong as to haunt us for months. Therefore, all calculations got jeopardized and the virus has put the developed and underdeveloped countries on the same boat.
We have lacking, wastage and mismanagement over resource and utilization. Even after that, the frontline people – medical personnel, police or journalists – tried to do their best. Public and private capacity to fight the virus is being expanded gradually though it is still inadequate. Proper management I think is a major challenge for a country as densely populated as Bangladesh. I believe we still could serve more, even with limited resources, through smart management.
All of us will possibly get infected by Covid-19 as the spread of virus is escalating. But all will not require hospital care. The health directorate should ensure proper treatment for the few who will require medical attention. I did not need oxygen support. But there are patients who required ICU support. I saw in the news that many people were not getting treatment, while some died without any treatment. I heard that the government has taken up an initiative to expand oxygen supply facility, isolation and ventilation on an emergency basis. I think the sooner the better. Besides, we need to dedicate more hospitals for Covid-19 treatment as the infection goes up every day. Our health system now requires the attention of both private and public sectors. This is the time for emergency response, which will have short and long-term plans.
I believe the post coronavirus world will see a tremendous change in healthcare system and Bangladesh will not remain isolated. Because every new journey began from a crisis. We need to speed up and expand testing. I heard about rapid testing, which can give the result within 15 to 30 minutes. If there is really such technology, we should introduce it. The bottom line is, we need to bring the virus test and treatment within the reach of common people.
Scientists hope to invent a vaccine this year or in the next year. Many countries are at present doing relentless research to get the vaccine, while many have reached the tril phases. Countries are booking in advance to get the vaccine as soon as it is invented, and they are pouring in billions for that. We should follow the lead so that we can get the vaccine if the world discovers one.
Besides, we need countrywide aggressive awareness campaign to make people aware of the protective measures. This will ease the pressure on the healthcare system and many lives could be saved. People should be made aware of following proper health guidelines instead of following online propaganda. Social networking site-based fake health messages could lead us to further troubles.
We need to survive until an effective vaccine is invented. Until then, we have to learn to live with the virus and to invest time to continue the battle. We should overcome the situation patiently and plan to survive for the next six months. We have to reduce the expenditure and pay if requires, but we have to survive. For this, we need to adopt whatever strategy it takes. Survival will be the biggest investment and that is what we should count on.
Each crisis brings new potential and scopes. The virus crisis has taught us crisis management and the need to rethink life and the environment. There are scopes to revisit the decisions on medical treatment, education and humanity. Profit does not mean consumption, rather it means equal distribution and equal restructuration. The pandemic has brought us chances to make life confined by development, industrialization and growth, easier. It is not enough to simply achieve middle-income status; at the same time, we need to lift up the marginalized people. We need to look closer at society and minimize the inequalities. We not only have to win against the virus, but also against hunger.
I heard about the apparel industry woes during the hospital stay, and have been hearing now too. The sector provides the country with 80 to 85 percent export earnings. It is difficult to tackle such a huge loss. On the other hand, it is natural and regretful for the readymade industries to draw criticism since it is the largest sector. To earn the trust of the people, this sector leaders should show more mature attitudes.
The textile sector missed a season while the next one is uncertain too. But the situation will not be the same forever. Europe and America will begin buying. The question is when, and there is no answer to that. But we will have to be ready and continue production. Crisis is not an issue for the Bangladeshi entrepreneurs. I do believe that our future will change if we can survive the next six months. This is truer for the readymade garments sector.
We will have to wait and sacrifice for the sake of the future.
In Sheltech and Envoy, we have not downsized our office so far nor cancelled any payments. We just postponed the provident funds for a few months. We are assessing our institutional framework to readjust the expenditure. This is temporary. But we will certainly not terminate our low-level workers.
Many of us will not get back the life we had before the pandemic. This is the new normal for institutions, non-institutions and elsewhere. We will get back on our feet if we have confidence in ourselves. Stay positive, stay lively, and stay faithful. If you get scared, you will certainly lose the battle. Get prepared for the future. Gain energy for the battle, and save money for future investment.
The main fight for survival is yet to begin. Rest assured, the future is ours.
PS:
I am a lucky man.
I have come across countless good hearted-people and friends in my life who have stood by me during difficult times. I have worked hard throughout my life, and I am doing the same now. I am a family man who believes hard work, honesty, dedication and support of the family are the combined mantra for success. I had been hospitalized with coronavirus for 12 days. Hundreds of texts from family, friends and well-wishers marked the hospital stay. Those messages of love and prayer would bring tears to my eyes. One good news during my hospital stay was that I had been nominated by the Spanish Government for the highest civilian 'Knight Officer' title.
Now, I have fully recovered from the infection. Thanks to the mercy of the Almighty and prayers of all. I hope to resume office work from next week.
The writer is Mr. Kutubuddin Ahmed, Chairman of Envoy and Sheltech groups, he recently recovered from Covid-19, he writes about his struggle with the disease, his reflections on life and country, and the road to recovery for the Bangladeshi economy.