People and their different perspectives about COVID-19

During our just concluded #SmileWithoutWorms medical outreach, we had planned to distribute face masks to patients who would be attended to by our medical team. We had anticipated that the majority of those living in rural communities cared less about COVID-19 and the need to maintain safety precautions. So we went prepared.

Our predictions were right. 98% of the over 500 people who were attended to didn’t come with their face masks. So we had to distribute our locally made face masks to everyone. We also distributed face shields to teenagers. We took the time to educate and sensitize them about COVID-19 and the need to practice social distancing, wash their hands and put on their face masks.

In the cause of our work, we have discovered that there are three types of people and their perspectives about COVID-19.

• Those who do not believe that COVID-19 exists. They believe it is a scam and that there is a conspiracy theory around it. Therefore they will not put on a face mask or follow any public health recommendation about COVID-19.
• There are those who believe COVID-19 exists, but still will not put on face masks or follow any public health recommendation about COVID-19.
• There are those who believe COVID-19 exists and would do all they can to always put on a face mask and follow all public health recommendations about COVID-19, even though they forget to sometimes.

We have seen people die of COVID-19 and its related complications, not one, not two, not three. We have seen several patients, friends and family members who have tested positive to COVID-19. 

Even if you do not believe there is COVID-19 and you don’t want to call it a name, that’s fine. At least believe that there is an infectious disease out there that is killing people. And that there are safety precautions required to keep you and your loved ones safe. 

The death cases across the world are no jokes, neither are they scam. These numbers are not just statistics, there are human beings behind those numbers. Act responsibly and contribute to putting an end to the disease.

Photo Credit: Ebo Nwannediuto & Queen Nzube Obiesi