GASPRO International Journal of Eminent Scholars

ABSTRACT
This study examined the impact of mitigation of coronavirus pandemic on school children
aged 5 to 12 years in Akwa Ibom State. The study adopted a survey design. A total of 180
primary school teachers were used as respondents, randomly selected from 18 communities
in Akwa Ibom State, comprising 9 urban communities and 9 rural communities. A15-item
structured questionnaire arranged in a Likert form of strongly agree, agree, disagree and
strongly disagree was formulated for the study. The researcher made use of test-retest
reliability index to ascertain the reliability of the questionnaire. Three research questions
were formulated to guide the study. Responses were analysed using chi-square. Findings
revealed that children in rural communities indulge in high consumption of local herbs and
concoctions which create high immunity and body resistance against infections like
coronavirus and its likes. Based on the result, it was revealed also that the urban
communities are highly exposed to environmental hazards, thereby viruses easily transmitted
in high populated environments, eroding system immunity, and aiding easy spread of the
disease among people. It was recommended that Governments, NGOs and other stakeholders
create enough avenues and support for harnessing local herbal medicinal practices, which
prove to be effective in curdling the spread and survival of coronavirus. Parents, teachers
and administrators were also admonished to assist in the propagation of positive advocacy
towards sensitization of the children on the dangers and hazards involved in the transmission
and infection of coronavirus. Curriculum planners were also asked to include the
introduction of the uses and importance of traditional herbs and fruits to man, realizing that
the benefits of traditional African herbs to man are enormous.
KEYWORDS: Coronavirus, school, children, mitigation, herbs