Wear a mask. It is easy to make it work!
Lena is a first-grader and has a message for all of you: “Wear a mask. If I can do it, so can you, and believe it or not, it can save lives. It is easy to make it work.”
Lena is a first-grader and has a message for all of you:
“Wear a mask. If I can do it, so can you, and believe it or not, it can save lives. It is easy to make it work.”
How far and distant seems the time when we traveled and socialized without worrying about the virus that is spreading all over the world. COVID-19 pandemic has changed our lifestyle. It has made it hard for us to casually meet and talk with other people and have fun with our friends. We all look forward to the day our lives get back to how they used to be. The least we can do is wear a mask!
The use of a mask alone is not sufficient to provide an adequate level of protection against COVID-19. Nevertheless, masks offer some protection to ourselves and are also meant to protect those around us in case we are unknowingly infected with the coronavirus. Lena, seven-year-old girl from North Mitrovica, understands this and she is sometimes shocked when she notices people not wearing masks.
“They are not respecting protective measures and they do not care about other people”, she emphasizes.
Lena started school this year. Although she is a native Serbian speaker, she says that she herself learned English by watching cartoons. Sometimes she even prefers communicating in English. She is deeply concerned about the pandemics and wanted to share some of her thoughts on coronavirus with us. “Coronavirus is a green thing which can spread easily when there are a lot of people staying together. I would advise people to wear a mask, otherwise they will get sick because of coronavirus”.
When we asked her if this is enough to be protected from the virus, she added: “First and foremost, we have to wear a mask, but no less important, we also have to keep distance, wash hands, avoid crowded spaces, cafes, and mass gatherings”, she concluded.
If you get sick, Lena is urging you not to leave your home and spread the virus.
Lena loves going to school, learning, and socializing with her classmates. Lockdown was hard for her, and she could not wait for schools to open so she could attend classes, especially English Language and Math. Attending school is very important for her.
In 2020, the school closure affected around 345,000 children and adolescents in Kosovo. The lack of play, socialization, and interaction with teachers may significantly affect the psychosocial wellbeing and development of children and adolescents.
While most children continue their education through distance learning, UNICEF underlines that the decision to reopen schools with the recommended preventive and protective measures in September has been a positive step towards reducing the negative impacts of prolonged school closures.
UNICEF Kosovo Office and its partners made a series of efforts since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic to support public institutions in fighting the virus and preventing its spread by distributing hygiene kits for families in need, babies, elementary schools, providing personal protection equipment for frontline health workers and facilitating distance learning for children with disabilities.
The growing numbers of COVID-19 infection cases during the last month set the need to remind once again that wearing a mask, keeping the social distance of 1.5 meters, and maintaining personal hygiene are the most effective protective measures against the coronavirus.
Never forget, by protecting yourself, you also protect your loved ones.
Lena is only seven and she is constantly adhering to the protective measures. Avoiding visiting and playing with her friends was not how she imagined this year would look like. Nevertheless, she does not find it hard to wear a mask, to wash her hands regularly, and to avoid crowds.
If Lena can do it, so can all of us. Be like Lena!
