Leadership Crisis Led Healthcare Debacle and Economic Turmoil in Brazil

Abstract

The world was deeply impacted with the outbreak of corona virus in early 2020, Brazil was no different. In fact, Brazil was the worst affected among all the Latin American countries. More than three million people died till March 2021 due to COVID 19 infection. Healthcare service was stressed out and completely overwhelmed with daily rise in cases. President of Brazil, Jair M Bolsonaro received criticism from all corners of the world when his erroneous leadership pushed nation to an unprecedented health emergency and economic distress. He downplayed novel corona virus since the early phase of the spread, antagonized quarantine necessity and opposed lockdown measures in fear of economic loss. Vaccination drive remained abysmally low as miniscule 2 percent people were inoculated till March end of 2021. In majority of states in Brazil, hospital ICU bed occupancy rate exceeded 90 percent. With acute shortage of oxygen, medicine, beds and trained medical staff, healthcare system was in near breakdown situation. Loss of income, unemployment and poverty went high in the pandemic ridden time. However, the President remained busy in flouting social distancing norms and glorified military regime of 60s and 70s which raised skepticism of military coup amidst political, economic and healthcare turmoil. President’s popularity plummeted downhill as his foolhardy decision devastated lives and economy like never before. Emergence of more than 90 new variants of fatal virus eclipsed any smooth recovery possibility. Cabinet reshuffle amidst health emergency to promote close associates didn’t go down well either and Bolsonaro administration was shocked with resignation from military chiefs. The nation will hold general elections in 2022 and try to bring an end to the egoistic, erratic and excruciating leadership.