By Zahara Tunda

@zahratunda

Are you okay? It’s a simple question, but it means a lot, especially when someone asks without forcing it onto you. I mean with good intentions and in a caring manner. 

We all need this, especially now that almost everything has turned against us. In a way, we need to stay at home and wait for the good news concerning the coronavirus pandemic.

But when? We don’t know. We just need to stay safe until everything is somewhat back to normal. 

My point is that, in this period of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19), we need to check on our friends and other people who are close to us. They may be facing mental breakdowns because of this pandemic.

Some of us used to work from home a lot because of the nature of our work. But others cannot do it. When I was in the office, for example, I knew this lady who sell food around Victoria. She is famous and we all call her ‘Mama.’ I don’t know exactly how many plates she was selling per day, but I guess more than 100 because most of us went to eat her yummy food. But the office is closed down now and most of us are working from home, I wonder how she is doing right now!

Some of us also depend on public events. We make a living through them by catering, facilitating, organizing, and selling goods. It’s a bit of a challenge because no major public events are allowed for now and we don’t know when things will go back to normal again.

In our country it’s also challenging for those who are working in the private sector and NGOs. Some of them are working from home, but others are going on with business as usual. This may add more distress, especially now when the numbers of infected people are starting to rise in Tanzania.

What I am really trying to say is that we need to support those with small businesses, like ‘mama vitumbua’, ‘mihogo’, ‘chapati’, ‘mbogamboga’, so they can also feed their children.

If you have a friend around that circle, call them, order what they sell, and link them to a person who could buy their products. Give them courage that this will somehow be normal and they should adopt new ways of doing business through social media and other means of technology. You may even help them to do so if you can.

Call your family and friends, reminding them of the ways to stay safe during this time. Help them when you can. Be there for them because we need each other now more than ever.

I understand that there are families that are facing violence during this period. If you hear your neighbor or a close person to you is facing this, please don’t keep quiet. Report to the authorities and do the needful to help.

We all need to stay safe at home. If the environment is not safe, please use any means to reach out to the people you trust. You don’t have to suffer alone.

We should be together to fight by every means possible. Fighting alone will most likely lead us to a mental breakdown. So, let’s support each other.

If you’re staying at home please do some workouts, play with your kids, cook some food, read some books, and so forth.

But do not force yourself to be as productive as you were at the office. This time it’s not your choice to stay though there are consequences. If you can, try to keep on pushing so you can at least make up to 70% of your productive capacity. But if you can’t, don’t feel guilty. It is better to be mentally healthy and be alive to work tomorrow.

Stay safe, everything will somehow be alright and remember that you’re not alone in this. We should follow the precautions that have been given. Wash your hands with soap and running water. Check on your friends and stay in a positive environment.

Till next time. For now, take care. Once again, remember to check on your friends and family members. Your loved ones need you as much as you do.