brave new world

Samantha was one of the most popular radio presenters, vibrant and topical. Her weekly programme on ZBTQ on 99.1 Frequency, broadcasting all over the country, had been a permanent fixture since 2019 when Covid- 19 was on everyone's lips and impacting everyone's lives. The world had been traumatised by the pandemic, and even now, people were not sure that it had died a natural death or was in hibernation. WHO and other reports had been circulated and were now gathering dust on office shelves. Prevalence figures were no longer a talking point, and travel companies were back to their cut-throat competition for new markets. Hard-hit communities were still in mourning, trying to get back to normal after the virus had taken over the world.

Samantha: " Welcome listeners, I know some of you are saying Thank God it's Friday, TGIF. Therefore, let's close the week with a cathartic approach to life. Some of you are working from home, children are back at school or are homeschooling, we are all over lockdowns and travel restrictions. With my cup of herbal tea beside me, I will kick off our discussion today. Let me remind you of the topic 'How we survived COVID-19.' I'm hoping that there will be many callers during the next hour. Our WhatsApp number is 4659038. You can send text messages or call. Remember this programme is all about information sharing, so no fake news, please! We have a guest at the end of the programme to address some of your medical concerns. Wow, the calls are already coming through, and who is our first caller? Mwadiwa, Hie Mwadiwa. How are you this beautiful morning, and where are you calling from?'

Mwadiwa: "Hie, Samantha. I am well and calling from Mbare."

Samantha: "Mbare, right in the capital. Great! What is your contribution?"

Mwadiwa: "My issue does not apply to Mbare only. Yes, Covid has gone, for now. Some of the guidelines still apply if we are going to keep it at bay. The Ministry of Health and government know the situation in Mbare. We are overcrowded and sometimes living two to three families in one room. If one of us catches any future infectious disease, where can we self-isolate? The bit about water and washing hands makes me laugh! When was the last time we had running water in the hostels- pre Independence? I won't even start on the hand sanitiser story. It's all very well in the more affluent suburbs, but who will continue to prioritise buying 60% alcohol-based sanitisers or even soaps, for that matter? I can't even put one meal a day on the table for my family. I'm a vendor, and we were stopped from selling vegetables by the roadside because it's unhygienic. All these messages are just noise to me, and I've become more stressed by the day. I don't expect you to have answers, Samantha. I'm hoping someone from the City Council is listening to your programme. Having no water and overcrowding are their responsibility. I just needed to let off steam!"

Samantha: "Wow, you certainly packed a lot into that call. I hear you and am sure other listeners have similar concerns. We may not be able to provide solutions today. Let's keep sharing, raising awareness and learning from each other. Our next caller is on the line. Hello. I am speaking to?"

Mrs Senza: "Mrs Senza from Greencroft. Hello Samantha. I am glad I got through because the phone lines are so busy. My question is related to information overload. Everywhere I turn, there is news on post-pandemic recovery plans. I don't know what is genuine or fake. But I am concerned for my family and my mental health. How can I keep myself informed and keep my sanity?'

Samantha: 'That is an excellent point, and it affects all of us listeners. Can one get too much information? At the same time, we do need to keep current because things are moving so fast. I have decided that I only log on or listen to the news twice a day. That's at the beginning and the end of my work schedule. Then I switch off in the evening. Otherwise, I might not be able to get a good night's sleep, stressing about all the world's problems. I am sure everyone has their coping mechanisms. Perhaps we can have a future session on mental health. On to the next caller. Sorry, who's on the line? I can't hear you. Please speak up. Ok, I am now talking to myself. The line has gone dead. Hello to our next caller."

Tsitsi: "Hello? Hello! Can you hear me?"

Samantha: "Hello, It's Samantha from radio ZBTQ. Please go ahead. Can you reduce the volume on your radio because we cannot hear you? There seems to be some background interference. That's better. Please go ahead."

Tsitsi: “Hie its Tsitsi. I am calling from Belvedere, and it's nice to hear someone on the other end of the phone. I haven't spoken to anyone for several days. My teenage daughter is staying with her father, so I am feeling lonely. We decided that she would be better off there than here, where I am experiencing a myriad of challenges: electricity power cuts, our borehole has no water and I am not coping. I think people forget that I also want calls in return and people checking up on how I am. I am developing low-level depression and have never felt so vulnerable. Friends and relatives picture me as always bubbly and the one who uplifts others. So, they don't know what to do when I say I am feeling low."

Samantha: "Are you still there? Good, you're back. You got cut off briefly. Thank you for sharing and sorry to hear you are feeling low. Perhaps the programme can lift up your spirits. You can re-establish personal links and open up about your need for a company through a call or WhatsApp or Skype. It's a two-way street. During the lockdown, you had people or family contacts in bubbles- keep these up. They were not just pandemic coping mechanisms. Investigate what support systems are in place from external organisations. Would you like to try that? Good luck, and let us know how you get on.

Listeners, let's not forget that not everyone is living with families, like our last caller. Some of us are lonely or alone. Check up on those near and dear to you, your friends or maybe that person you have not heard from for a long time; older persons, those with disability. We all cope with isolation differently. So, let's reach out and make a difference in someone's life. We have another caller. It sounds like one of our younger listeners. Hie James. It is James, isn't it?"

James: "Hello, Samantha. My mum said I could call, and she is right here. I am still homeschooling and miss playing with my friends. I also thought studying online would be fun, but now I have so much homework to do, and sometimes I have no one to ask because my mum doesn't always understand what I am doing."

Samantha: 'Wow, at least Mum is around to help you! You are also fortunate to have online classes because I know some pupils don't have laptops or electricity, or connectivity to do any online work. They have lost out on schooling for months. Ask your mum how you can improve your communication with your teacher and classmates when you need help with your classwork. What Grade are you in?"

James: "I am in Grade 5 at Macdonald School in Greendale. My teacher does check our progress. However, it is only now and then."

Samantha: "Ok, I suggest you list all the problem areas so you can discuss them with your teacher when she is next online. I am sure she will be able to help. Good luck with your online studies, James. Time is flying, and I only have time for one or two more callers. We are coming up to our last callers, listeners. It's Mbuya Budiriro. Please go ahead."

Mbuya Budiriro: 'I am a senior citizen, over 70 years and a retired nurse. I used to work at Gomo Hospital in the maternity wards. I am very concerned about my husband and myself. We both had Covid-19 and it was a miracle that we recovered. Age-wise, we are definitely in the high-risk group, and we both have high blood pressure. I also suffer from diabetes. We are still feeling tired and not our usual selves. We are not on, what do you call it? Yes, the internet…"

Samantha: "I hate to interrupt. We only have a few minutes left, so please ask your question."

Mbuya Budiriro: “Sorry Samantha. My question is, this continual fatigue, could it be the long-term effects of Covid-19?"

Samantha: "I'm not a medical person, but I have someone who will address your concern. Indeed, these are times full of anxiety. In the New York Times, Emma Patter stated, 'Worry happens in your mind, stress happens in your body, and anxiety happens in your mind and body.' We are coming to the end of our programme, and I am giving this time slot to a medical practitioner, Dr Nyamwanza to give feedback to our listeners. Over to you, Doctor. Thank you very much for joining us. I know the medical profession is going through challenges of its own, including the ongoing strike by junior doctors and nurses, over pay.”

Dr Nyamwanza: "Thank you very much for having me on your programme Samantha. Hello listeners! I have been taking notes and can address some of the concerns aired within the last hour.

Firstly, information overload and fake news. I agree that there is so much news now, partly because we are recovering from a unique post-pandemic era. I agree with Samantha, try and decide on two or three reliable information sources. The World Health Organisation has shared information on possible long-term effects of Covid such as fatigue, coughing, shortness of breath, loss of taste or smell, and even confusion. Read whatever the Ministry of Health is sharing and listen to radio health programmes. One must be very careful, however, about sources. So, verify the information before you forward it to others. We must continue to reduce alarm and despondency, which affects our mental health. 

Secondly, the issues of loneliness and being alone. Family and community support is vital to one's mental health. If possible, try and get internet connectivity if you can afford it. Maybe the grandchildren can give some internet home-schooling to the older listeners. We cannot run away from the fact that communication is increasingly online.

Thirdly, the Mbare situation. Regrettably, I cannot address issues of low incomes and lack of purchasing power, as raised by the caller. Overcrowding and access to water and sanitation, however, do impact our health. Keep contacting the City of Harare, or perhaps your communities can band together and buy water. We can only do what is within our means and control.

Finally, even though we are in the post-pandemic era, the Ministry of Health still recommends basic hygiene such as covering your mouth and nose when coughing. Hand-washing correctly with soap and water is still good practice. Listeners, try and see your doctor or visit your health facility if you need advice or feel unwell. I know this information is a lot to digest in one go, but ignorance can cost lives. I am happy to address additional questions off the air. Thank you once again for having me on your show, Samantha."

Samantha:" Thank you very much to our guest Dr Nyamwanza and all our callers.

We are also going into the winter period with its usual flu, colds and sniffles. So let's stay alert and healthy. The pandemic was a significant hurdle that some of us survived and we are living through new normalcy. Do take care, and until next week when we are talking about Domestic Violence, this is Samantha Dube signing off at the end of our weekly programme on ZBTQ on 99.1 Frequency!"