SIX months since the first the Covid-19 case was detected in Zambia, we are still faced with a possible crisis as the bulk of young people continue to flout public health guidelines.
The youth are said to be the future of any nation and as such special attention must be placed on ensuring they gain the correct information about the coronavirus as well as playing a role in ensuring community members abide by public health guidelines.
For, now examination classes and pupils and higher education institutions are back in class and we agree with the Chongwe Member of Parliament, Japhen Mwakalombe who has suggested that pupils be equipped to act as ambassador in the fight against the spread of Covid-19.
The Chongwe lawmaker has said education is a great tool in human development that can be used to equip learners with information which must be taken into the communities.
Speaking when he conducted a familiarization tour of Kapete primary school in Kapete ward in Chongwe, Mr Mwakalombe advised teachers to provide learners with accurate and consistent information on Covid-19.
“You play a critical role in society and as such you must educate the learners on issues of Covid-19. These children must be used as ambassadors of the message on the dangers and prevention of the spread of the pandemic,” he said.
He urged school management to ensure that the school upheld the Covid-19 protocols within the school.
He said that this must be enhanced to ensure the safety of the learners and teachers. He observed that a Laissez-faire attitude must not be tolerated in schools.
Indeed, our leaners have to not only strive to pass their exams but must also ensure that they remain protected against possible coronavirus infection at school and at home.
Our learners congregate in classrooms but come from different economic back grounds and communities and as such are excellent conveyors of information back to their homes and communities.
Social media and the mainstream media is awash with unbecoming conduct such as continued crowding and it is important for our youth to be guided against falling prey to laxity.
We are already seeing some world leaders who were adamant against basic Covid-19 public health guidelines such as masking up, unfortunately the result has seen the further escalation of Covid-19 cases.
While, young people may not be as badly affected by coronavirus as the elders in the community, we are reminded of the recent reports of sudden deaths in children who ended up testing positive for Covid-19.
These were among the brought in dead (BID) cases and it makes the grim reality of Covid-19 that much more real.
As teachers conduct classes under the new normal, it is important to convey the message on being responsible community members by ensuring the Covid-19 public health guidelines are followed. Mask up, practice hand hygiene, avoid unnecessary movements and maintain social distance.
The fact remains that Covid-19 will be with us for a long while still and as we begin to loosen up Covid-19 restrictions we must be sure that there are enough public health ambassadors and who better than our wealth of young people.
Indeed we applaud our hardworking teachers across the country that have continued to work in the frontline in ensuring the future prosperity of the nation and it is our hope that they will indeed take up the call to educate a formidable batch of public health ambassadors.
