Global Health: A New Reality in the Post Covid 19 era Despite Health Fatigue and Vulnerabilities

This article was exclusively written for The European Sting by Mr. Anthony Collins is a fifth year Medical Student from UWI Mona in Kingston, Jamaica who’s very passionate about research, forensics and pathology. He is affiliated with the International Federation of Medical Students Associations (IFMSA), cordial partner of The Sting. The opinions expressed in this piece belong strictly to the writer and do not necessarily reflect IFMSA’s view on the topic, nor The European Sting’s one.

Covid-19 has terrorized the world for the past 2+ years causing millions of deaths and leaving many in shambles as they scramble to cope with the residual effects of the virus. We all survived thanks to the valiant effort of healthcare workers who tirelessly worked countless hours to ensure our survival; an adverse effect of that being burnout and pandemic fatigue.Pandemic fatigue as defined by the WHO is feeling demotivated about following recommended behaviours to protect ourselves and others from the virus. Similarly, burnout is a state of emotional, physical, and mental exhaustion caused by excessive and prolonged stress. Stress in this case being the pandemic. Signs of pandemic fatigue include:1.  Disregarding public health recommendations for vaccinations and booster shots, this happens as persons are tired of having to be stuck with needles for a newer variant to undo the effort put into keeping themselves safe.            2.  Ignoring safety recommendations such as wearing masks and washing hands3.  Losing interest in keeping informed about the pandemic4.  Having lower risk perception related to the virus5.  Feeling hopeless about the future6.  Coping in negative ways such as drinking or substance abuse     Despite all the challenges there are measures we can take to ensure a new health reality globally. These include:1.       Practicing self-care. This can be as simple as taking time off work (especially healthcare workers) to relax by exercising, meditating or watching a movie. Most importantly, eating healthier foods and having a better sleep cycle to reduce the level of stress hormones that negatively impacts our health.2.       Identifying how you feel and focusing on what is in your control. Identifying how we feel takes some level of self-reflection and honesty as we discern what we feel and why to determine how best to deal with it in a positive manner. Along with that comes focusing on what is in our control as we can only protect our health in the face or however many variants may arise. Talking to someone such as a therapist may help with this process3.       Staying connected with loved ones. Friends and family help to build morale which can work to improve recovery time or keep healthy as evidenced by the biopsychosocial model of health. It emphasizes that health is not only physical but has psychological and social determinants as well.4.       Developing positive coping mechanisms to deal with stress. 

About the author

Anthony Collins is a fifth year Medical Student from UWI Mona in Kingston, Jamaica who’s very passionate about research, forensics and pathology. He spends his time gaining experience in those areas from clubs and their activities simulating the areas of interest. He volunteers to help those in need and the environment and serves as Executive Assistant Secretary on the UWI Mona Medical Sciences Guild Committee where he gains further personal and professional development as a student leader serving his fellow students.

Trending now: