“one of the great liabilities of history is that all too many people fail to remain awake through great periods of social change -today our very survival depends on our ability to stay awake ,to adjust to new ideas ,to remain vigilant and to face the challenge of change”. Martin Luther King
There is no universally agreed international definition of the youth. For statistical purpose , however the UN- without prejudice to any other definition made by member states defines “Youth” as those persons between the age of 15 and 24 years. India is having the largest youth population in the world today . The entire world is eying India as a source of technical manpower , as a source of talents at low costs for their future super profits. If the youth make up their mind and work in close unity with working class people they can hold the political power in their hands. They can make the country from developing nation to a developed nation. As the world grapples with unprecedented challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic , young people are demonstrating their continued leadership in their communities and countries. According to the new UN plan to address Covid-19 Pandemic , young people are some of the most affected by the pandemic’s socio-economic impacts. Nevertheless, youth are also among the most active in global responses: Not only are they on the frontlines as health workers but they are also advancing health and safety in their roles as researchers , activists, innovators and communications. As we know that youth voices are part of the solutions for healthier ,safer and gender equal world. During this unprecedented crisis we are also facing“ infodemic” of misinformation on the virus – as a result the demand for reliable and trustworthy information and the need for public health professionals to engage with communities has become even more acute , Although young people may be at lower risk of developing severe symptoms , their high consumption of social media and exposure to misinformation make them a key target demographic for public health messages . They also represent an untapped well of potential for positive change during this time of global uncertainty. While young people across the world have taken an additional work and assumed new responsibilities.
As the world gradually overcomes the pandemic, and today’s generation of students and young professionals move forward in their careers and assume leadership roles, they will continue to draw lessons vis-à-vis their sense of purpose, solidarity and new perspectives gained during the current crisis, and make valuable ongoing contributions for improving and protecting health in their own communities and globally.
Instead of getting panicked by fear or panic , the youth must provide a more impactful response. So here are some of the ways that youth can deliver during this pandemic Covid-19—Spread community awareness online and offline , educate your families, friends etc. , Find opportunities to volunteer in your community, if there are older people or immunocompromised people help them out. Find a reliable charity to donate. Follow simple and routine world health organisation guidelines, properly wash hands more often avoid crowded spaces , avoid handshaking ,If you are sick wear a mask and seek medical attention immediately. Hold your government accountable , advocate for free testing , reliable information , paid sick leave , investments in science and universal health coverage . Use social media and apps to spread accurate information , speaking out for effective and equitable care. Young people have to shape the future of health and other professions. Despite social distancing measures in many countries, they have united with peers from across the globe to drive positive change through the cumulative impacts of their small acts of empathy. During this unprecedented global crisis, they have shown their ability to catalyse collaboration across professional boundaries and overcome silos, to create communities of best practice across borders from scratch, and to constantly learn from one another. As the world gradually overcomes the pandemic, and today’s generation of students and young professionals move forward in their careers and assume leadership roles, they will continue to draw lessons vis-à-vis their sense of purpose, solidarity and new perspectives gained during the current crisis, and make valuable ongoing contributions for improving and protecting health in their own communities and globally.
(The author is a student at AMU Aligarh . Views are his own) [email protected].
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