Effect of Covid-19 Pandemic on Young People and Next Steps
COVID-19 is a novel virus as we all know that is highly infectious, transmitted by droplets. It’s level of contagiousness makes it a dreaded disease. Everyone in the world is afraid of this virus just because it is highly contagious. We are however lucky in this part of the world because the disease is not as deadly as it is in the Western world. There are other diseases however that have a higher case fatality than COVID_ 19 but do not have as much attention.
Social distancing was adopted globally as one of the responses to the pandemic among other strategies. Social distancing is actually the response that has the greatest impact on everyone including Young people. One of the ways to achieve social distancing was to enforce lockdown . The lockdown restricted our movement and this affected all sectors such as health, agriculture, hospitality, aviation, business education etc.
Effects of COVID 19 on Young people can be categorised into:
- Health
Physical health: adequate attention has not been paid to other ailments such as malaria, Upper respiratory tract infection etc and other common ailments since the pandemic started.
A young person with signs and symptoms of STIs cannot visit the hospital because of COVID because no one will pay attention in the hospital. So in essence we will likely have increase in the incidences of common ailments and lack of treatment may worsen complications.
Mental health: increase in depression due to this downtime and suicide may just be hiding in the corner if attention is not paid to such individuals.
Sexual health: STIs, HIV will definitely be in the increase. There was gross shortage of condom during this period because of low production due to lockdown
- Education.
Students have been at home now for a long time doing nothing except schools that have been able to start the online schooling. But in Nigeria, how many schools and students have the capacity to conduct the online school?
Idleness have greatly increased. Remember that an idle mind is the devil’s work shop. So many young people who didn’t know how to handle this period may have been distracted and introduced to other non_dignifying activities. Then, the question is COVID 19 has introduced uncertainty into the educational system. Both parents and their children are anxious about the educational system this year
- Socio_economic impact
Young people who are even hustling to make ends meet have all lost their jobs. Let me drive home the point more so that you can appreciate it. Look at film house in ShopRite, sure you know it is dominated by young people, they have all been sent home.
What of the hospitality business? it is also dominated by young people, but due to the lockdown, they were all sent home.
- Malnutrition- categorised into over-nutrition and under-nutrition is also an effect.
Those who don’t have food to eat due to food insecurity suffer under-nutrition while those who have food to eat suffer from binge eating resulting into over nutrition. Majority have grown fat during this period and am sure we know the health implications of morbid obesity.
Due to the lockdown also with restrictions of movement, cost of food increased. This is worsened also by no adequate money in circulation.
- Lastly is change in business.
The language for transaction in the world is gradually changing. The language now is the online transaction. Without knowing how to transact virtually now, am sure we won’t be getting anything to buy or even participate in religious activities
In fact, the list of the health effect is endless. In the PreCovid era, we were experience increase in the incidence of hypertension among young people but now during and after COVID, I am sure this will increase further.
Many more young people because of idleness would have commenced masturbation and introduction to alcohol and drugs to drive away their sorrow.
Also, some young people lost their lives during this period which definitely has led to the reduction in the global workforce which ultimately will result into reduced gross domestic product. Sure the global economy is in a big mess.
For the education sector, sure more young people would have lost hope and drop out rate will definitely increase.
Like I said before, due to increase poverty, more young people are involved in crime, violence and abuse. Some are being assaulted sexually due to their availability at home and some are being maltreated.
So what can young people do differently despite these overwhelming effects?
Of course, a responsible government have a lot to do to revamp the economy but what are the roles of young people themselves in all of this mess?
- Every young person should develop an healthy mind. Lowest moments of life are needful for reflection. This free period should actually be used to restrategise. A young person with no dream or vision for life should get one and be ready to start on a clean slate to pursue the dream
- Never give up
- Promote joy and hope.- this is a conscious thing because the prevailing situation does not generate joy. But joy can be provoked with soul uplifting songs and motivational messages and books
Frustration is a blessing to man because it is an opportunity to develop yourself as a young person. This period should be seen as a rare privilege to undergo self evaluation and self mirroring. Identify where you are weak and strong. Develop your weakness and never stop moving despite the challenges.
Every young should be ready to adapt to changes which is always constant and think outside the box. BBM was the first application to send messages but today they are out of business because they refused to change with the tide. Android came and took over.
So every young people should be ready to speak the language that the world is speaking now. Identify your IT skills and online marketing skills as well as your passion.
A person who has no reason to live will live for another. This downtime period is a discovery period. Make productive use of your special talents.
The number one point above is sometimes hard. Failure could lead to uncontrollable hate of ones self continuously. However, keep moving, don’t stop even if you fall. Also use other tips listed above to overcome the downtime.
You have all it takes to be who God has destined you to be. The difficult times of life are actually part of the design to make you fit for the master’s use. Don’t see this period as a challenge but as an opportunity for improvement.
This presentation was done by Dr Yetunde Olagbuji during a WhatsApp meeting with beneficiaries of our Adolescents centered Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights intervention tagged “E-Knowing Series”
Dr Yetunde Olagbuji is the CEO, Youth, Health and Life Skills Development Initiative. She can be reached by mail; yhldi2017@gmail.com
