UPSCALE COVID-19 AWARENESS
THAT some Zambians have resorted to self-oxygen prescription, calls for an immediate repackaging of information about COVID-19 in a manner that will be persuasive and touching to the masses.
At the moment, many citizens appear to be detached because the response to all precautionary measures has been lukewarm.
They have to be forced to wear masks, they have to be policed to observe social distancing and have to be watched to wash their hands or sanitise and are only doing so when they reach commercial banks and retail outlets that are strict and compliant.
Thus sensitisation programmes must be enhanced and redesigned to include an appealing and human element that will resonate with the public.
The current formal and straight-jacket messages across mainstream media, bill boards and other platforms are invariably not able to stimulate action or change of mind-set.
Government, multi-sectoral teams and other stakeholders have struggled to convince the larger portion of the population on the imperative need to strictly adhere to preventive measures.
For five months now messages about COVID-19 have not had a significant impact on the citizens as information about preventive measures sounds like routine chorus.
The message that ‘mask-up, observe social distancing and wash your hands regularly’ is simply not working in the manner it is being disseminated, particularly in high-density townships.
Authorities must enhance monitoring as information flows and also evaluate its impact on the masses so that gaps can be closed; adjustments are supposed to be done on regular intervals.
Health promotion officers and other personnel are key in information dissemination in their various jurisdictions across the country.
The media stands as the most important tool to effectively disseminate information across the country and thus needs to be proactive rather than stick to the daily updates from the Ministry of Information.
It will be helpful for the media to package information in an appealing manner that will generate interest and behavioral change.
The media should also educate the masses on the provisions of the Public Health (Infected Areas) (Coronavirus Disease 2019), regulations 2020 as provided through the Statutory Instrument (SI) number 22.
Under the regulations, a person who fails to comply with restrictions, prohibition or contravenes regulations commits an offence and is liable upon conviction to a fine or imprisonment not exceeding six months or both.
Information about SI 21 and 22, which were invoked in March this year has not been adequate in the public domain.
Surprisingly, the social media was awash this week on the punitive measures portraying them as new yet, they were introduced through the same SIs in March this year in the Public Health Act.
It is for this and many other reasons that information handlers need to do more in sensitising members of the public.
Health teams and other stakeholders must get into markets and bus stations and work with associations to disseminate information about COVID-19.
Information splashed on static and immobile bill boards is simply moribund while radio and television advertisement are proving monotonous.
Drama and other forms of performing arts can still be implemented under the new normal in markets and bus stations to small groups and not necessarily large gatherings that could compromise social distancing.
In a nutshell, there must be an immediate paradigm shift in the way information about COVID-19 is packaged to a much more appealing and touching fashion.