KARACHI: Pretty much like the dictum ‘justice delayed is justice denied’, words of gratitude extended to someone with the slightest bit of procrastination can be considered as no gratitude. It was timely of Google on Monday to say thank you to healthcare workers all over the world by coming up with an animated doodle highlighting and appreciating their hard work.

Ever since the coronavirus outbreak has hit the world, policymakers and thinkers have begun to revisit the idea of investing capital and manpower into areas where perhaps it was not as necessary as it is to invest in strengthening healthcare systems. Doctors, paramedics and other staff related to medical care have selflessly come forward to literally save the world from a catastrophe the likes of which has not been experienced since the latter half of the 20th century.

The world is going through a phase in which science, especially its branches that study living organisms, has emerged as a discipline that needs to be taken with the utmost seriousness.

Realising this, Google’s tribute is timely and worth appreciating. It may be a small gesture, but in terms of the psychological well-being of medical workers, it will go a long way. In a statement, the search engine has said, “This week we are beginning a series of doodles to recognise the many people responding to Covid-19, from doctors and nurses caring for people on the frontlines to teachers and food service workers ensuring essential goods and services are still available.”

Indeed, all praise to them.

Published in Dawn, April 14th, 2020