For the past three months, I feel tired of wearing face mask as soon as I leave my home, I feel tired of physical distancing from my friends and colleagues at weddings, funerals and workplace respectively. I also feel tired of constantly washing my hands, sanitising my hands, my electronic gadgets, my bags and others. The electioneering process in Ghana recently even worsened the case to ignore the safety protocols and campaign for power. I hope you are feeling the same wherever you find yourself.
Meanwhile, this was not the case when the COVID-19 pandemic started but now it seems there’s fatigue, demotivating me to continue adhering to the COVID-19 safety protocols till the vaccines become accessible globally. I am sure you’re also experiencing or witnessing the same. This leads us to the discussion of Pandemic Fatigue.
Pandemic Fatigue can be explained as the demotivation to follow acceptable protective behaviours which is a natural response as a result of protracted uncertainty. According to Prof. Cornelia Betsch, professor of Health communication at Erfurt University in Germany cited in WHO(2020): the key motivator for protective behaviour is fear. Prof. Cornelia Betsch added that when the fear wears off, people adapt to the threat.
This can be deduced that at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, fear factor motivated us to adapt to the safety protocols but due to prolonged uncertainty of the disease, we adopted different style of coping, leading us into demotivation mood. In my long essay which is yet to be published titled understanding effective risk communication in the context of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Ghana: it was revealed that provocation and shock tactics will help move the public into the recommended protective behaviours looking at the behavioural trends in Ghana. Additionally, during the literature review, it was discovered that increased self-efficacy through enhanced knowledge can produce recommended protective behaviours. However, the story this time looks different; I myself as author as well as my learned colleagues who are well vest in COVID-19 and its safety measures are demotivated to carry out the recommended protective behaviours due to pandemic fatigue as a result of prolonged uncertainties.
Common Signs of Pandemic Fatigue.
1. Feelings of hopelessness
2. Irritability
3. Lack of motivation
4. Changes in eating or sleeping habits
5. Unable to concentrate
Implications of Pandemic Fatigue.
As the COVID-19 Pandemic extends, we gradually start to lose our motivation to follow the safety protocols, hence we become self-satisfied about the virus even when the virus continues to spread and kill. This Pandemic Fatigue also makes us tired of living under restrictions, and therefore may want to obtain our freedom of movement which can put us and others at risk of contracting the virus.
The way forward:
Individual
As an individual, let recollect what the Holy Bible says in Proverbs 24:10 “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small”. Also in Proverbs 14:16 which says “A wiseman feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth And is confident”. Lastly, Isaiah 41:13 says “For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, fear not; I will help thee”. Let ponder over these verses regularly and strengthen our relationship with God. Last but not least, let connect with our friends and family socially but not physically through phone calls, social media and others.
Institutions/Organizations/Policy makers.
1. Understand the people
2. Engage the people as part of the solution
3. Help the people to reduce risk while doing things that will make them happy
4. Acknowledge and address the hardship people experience, and the profound impact the pandemic has had on people’s lives.
In conclusion, we cannot do without counselors or psychologist, we need them most at this critical moment. Let help each other to overcome this pandemic till the vaccine becomes globally accessible.
Credit
3. Jemima Laryea, Senior Nursing Officer.
Kwasi Omaro 