THE POSITIVE PROFESSOR
PROFESSOR KAROL SIKORA
CMO of Rutherford Cancer Centres and Former Director of WHO Cancer Programme
SOCIAL media’s voice of calm Karol Sikora has been signed up by the Daily Express. Readers can now enjoy his soothing advice in these troubled times that has won him hundreds of thousands of followers on Twitter. If you need reassuring everything’s going to be all right read Professor Positivity.
TWO stories in the news caught my eye and underlined just how complex and deep the problems that lockdowns have caused are. The current “head in the sand” approach from politicians will only worsen an already fragile situation.
Firstly, research was released that showed the damage lockdowns have had on children’s language skills and development. 76 per cent of primary schools surveyed said that pupils starting last September needed additional support with communication compared with past years.
Children need to be around other people to develop their societal skills; isolation will have stunted that process no doubt.
Anxious
When making policy decisions regarding children, the children should always be put first. I have six young grandchildren and the last year has not been easy for them, just like for millions across the country. As adults, do we fully understand the long-term damage that has been done? I doubt it.
The second story was about alcohol. Official figures show that there was a 16 per cent rise in alcohol-related deaths last year compared with 2019. Lockdowns will have played a significant part in that. Addiction charities have outlined their concerns and said a reduction in face-toface support will have contributed.
I agree, when people are anxious and isolated sadly for some turning to drink seems to be the only option.
In comparison with Covid, these two small issues may not seem nearly as important, but when you add them all together the harms are immense.
Fortunately, as we move out of lockdown, we should be seeing fewer and fewer of these problems emerge but we have to properly acknowledge their existence if we are going to tackle them with the vigour they require.