Can students be the agents of change in the post-pandemic world?
By: Monzur Morshed Patwary
Bangladesh’s coronavirus crisis, which was killing 200 people a day at one point, has eased after timely steps taken by the government, such as lockdown and ramped-up vaccination drives. By the end of 2022, the country had consistently recorded a COVID-19 infection detection rate of close to 0%. Despite this downward trend, there is no room for complacency when neighbouring countries like India face new surges of COVID-19 cases. Even as The World Health Organization (WHO) declared that COVID-19 no longer represents a "global health emergency", Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus remarked that "the worst thing any country can do now is to use this news as a reason to let down its guard, to dismantle the systems it has built, or to send the message to its people that Covid-19 is nothing to worry about".
As the country moves towards post-pandemic recovery, it's important for communities to be prepared for potential future emergencies, including new or recurring public health issues, by following relevant safety protocols and guidelines. While public figures and religious leaders are known to be agents of change in communities, one other community group can positively influence preventive practices and encourage healthy behaviours - students.
According to a 2019 study, increasing education through compulsory schooling provides parents with better resources to rely on through their children’s education. Such resources are associated with parents’ lower exposure to health risks. Another study reveals that introducing significant changes in health education at schools increases the probability of parents engaging in physical activity.
In recent times, there have been many cases where students have stepped up to improve the health of their community. For example, students in Lesotho have raised awareness about water, sanitation and hygiene in their community. In a study in Kenya, researchers found that 71% of homes reported adopting hand-washing basins based on communication from school children. In Uganda, school children successfully engaged in the promotion of sanitation and hygiene both in schools and neighbouring communities.
In Bangladesh, students boldly stood up against the COVID-19 pandemic. BRAC, a leading global development organization based in Bangladesh, engaged school students in Cox’s Bazar through the “Community Support Team Cox’s Bazar (CST Cox’s Bazar)” project. Awareness campaigns were organized across 300 schools where students were oriented about best practices regarding COVID-19 and the importance of vaccines, provided with contextualized comics and informative leaflets to distribute in their households, and encouraged to participate in quizzes to test their knowledge.
BRAC also collaborated with Sisimpur, a localized adaptation of children’s television series Sesame Street, to develop an educational video (contextualized for COVID-19) for school-aged children featuring the hallmark Sisimpur characters. The educational video was then shown in the schools via projectors.
A Student from Cox's Bazar Government High School poses with a leaflet containing preventive messages
Photo Credit: Abdullah Al Kafi
Empowered with the knowledge, relevant social and behaviour change communication (SBCC) materials, and a new responsibility, the students then raised awareness in their own families and communities. With the Bangladesh government opening vaccination to children aged 5 to 11 last August, the role of students became increasingly important in promoting vaccination and encouraging their peers to get vaccinated.
When interviewed, Mohammad Foysal, a Grade IX student from Cox's Bazar Government High School, was quite aware of the COVID-19. “At my home, it is only me and my mother. If either of us has to go out, I always stress that we should keep our masks up, avoid crowds as much as possible and keep social distance.”, he said. Foysal believes that wider access to vaccines is essential, as he perceives a reduction in the number of deaths since their introduction.
Foysal’s classmate, Asif Shahid, remarked that he has been trying his best to raise awareness in his community about the virus and advises family members to self-isolate when they show COVID-19 symptoms. “As an active citizen, I want to make a positive change in people’s lives. I am not only looking forward to getting the vaccine myself, but also encourage others to take it to protect themselves from the virus”, he said.
Prangon Paul Prantha, a BRAC volunteer on the ground, has also acknowledged that, in general, students have shown more interest in taking forward health messages than any other groups he has come across.
Students have the potential to be powerful agents of change in promoting healthy behaviours and preventing the spread of diseases. With proper education, resources, and support, they can actively engage in raising awareness and encouraging their communities to adopt safety protocols and get vaccinated. As we move towards a post-pandemic world, it is important to recognize and empower the role of students in creating a safer and healthier future for all.
