In Zimbabwe, the coronavirus – still fairly under control – threatens to overwhelm an already strained fitness formula and oppose the gains made over the years in maternal fitness, childcare, immunization, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
“Right now, our defense against COVID-19 is information,” says Dr. Alex Gasasira, WHO Representative in Zimbabwe. “When other people pay attention to the science and wear masks, practice social distancing, and practice hygiene by washing their hands frequently, we keep the pandemic at bay. This is precisely what the United Nations has been doing with government agencies.
But, he says, public education has its limits.
“Posters, radio spots, social media, working with journalists to get accurate information, all of that helps,” Gasasira adds. “But there are other people who still don’t pay attention to it. We also want to adapt to their frequency.
Fortunately, Zimbabwe has a not-so-secret weapon in the fight against the pandemic: music.
“We don’t have to sit idly by,” says Emmanuel Nkomo, percussionist with the group Bulawayo Afro-Tech. “We have to play our part of informing the public. “
Nkomo, Brown and other musicians claim to have a special relationship with their fans. Their songs resonate with listeners’ innermost emotions, their loves and their losses. Fans cling to his lyrics, waiting for his new releases, memorizing every note. of their songs, making a song when they play on the radio. In a word, they are trusted.
“It’s powerful,” he says, Gasasira. Si we can harness this power for public health, Zimbabwe will win. “
During their performances, the musicians combined messages on how to stay safe, the UN’s 75th anniversary, and the Sustainable Development Goals, the global plan to end poverty and inequality, and the planet.
“These are technical issues,” says Zenzele Ndebele, director of the Center for Innovation and Technology, a youth-run company that offers films, social media and live streams for artists. “But artists don’t lecture their audiences. He says that when artists seamlessly integrate messages into their performances, they create an opportunity for “organic” public discourse: other people share data because it’s engaging or creative.
In fact, the live concerts reached nearly a million people online and through social media. This creates a critical mass of power to prevent COVID-19 and the UN.
“People miss going out, partying and having fun,” says DJ Yayos, another of the artists. The lockdown that began in March paralyzed all concerts. Although restrictions eased from May onwards, many other people felt locked down. “So they were satisfied in the virtual concerts,” adds DJ Yayos, “and at the same time they gained knowledge. “
The shared enjoyment of music is another explanation for why concerts have been so valuable. “Fans love the music itself, but they also love the delight of the networked paintings,” says Dr. Harris. Esther Muia, UNFPA representative in Zimbabwe. ” Some of our work is to prevent violence against women and girls, for example. It’s one thing for UNFPA to teach others about gender-based violence. But it’s another thing when other people start educating others. When our health and protective responses ensure that other people are actively involved every step of the way, our interventions make a big difference.
“You see, we’re not making these pictures to make ourselves feel better. That kind of traditional perception of what a benefactor is. We are making these paintings because we are completely convinced that it is not necessary, in today’s world, for so many other people. to enjoy the discomfort, for so many other people to enjoy the hardships, for so many other people to see their lives and livelihoods at risk. “
Dr. David Nabarro has committed his life to global health. After a long career that has taken him from the horrors of the Iraq war to the devastating aftermath of the Indian Ocean tsunami, he still feels compelled to act on the enormous inequalities in the world. health care.
“What helps me stay awake at night are the inequalities endemic in our world. . . We see a lot of unnecessary suffering. “
The Manguinhos Ballet, named after its favela in Rio de Janeiro, is back on level after a long absence due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It has 250 young people and adolescents from the favela as interpreters. The ballet organization provides social assistance in a network where poverty, hunger and teenage pregnancy are constant problems.
The pandemic has put many other people to the test, and journalists are no exception. Not only has the coronavirus waged a war against the lives and well-being of other people, but it has also spawned countless clinical deceptions and lies.