Health: IMPOSED DEPRIVATION; THE HIDDEN TOLL OF KEROSINE HIKE

By Okunade Laylah

For students in the University of Ibadan, particularly those residing on campus, the doubling of kerosine price has become the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

While skipping meals has long been a trend in academic institutions due to various reasons, this sudden surge has aggravated the matter beyond endurance.

One of the immediate and devastating consequences is that students are forced to abandon home-cooked meals and adopt various coping mechanisms that significantly compromise their state of wellbeing. Junk food- economically safer alternative but lacking in nutritional benefit has become the saviour of the day.

These alternatives students resort to are high in calories and lack the proper nutrients the body needs to function properly. A 2024 study by WHO and TechnoServe on nutritional immunology emphasised the state of "hidden hunger". This occurs when a person feels "full" after consuming the junk, but their cells are "hungry" for essential nutrients.

Apparently, this is the crisis many students find themselves in.

However, this situation extends beyond affecting their state of health into academic performances. Research by Edward S.J et al (2011) in the Journal of American college health found that students who consume foods high in calories and sugar had relatively low CGPA. High consumption of sugar leads to fatigue and reduced cognitive function thereby decreasing the number of hours spent on studying.

Extreme feeding schedules are also being adapted by students. Regular feeding patterns like 0-1-1 or 1-0-1 are being reduced to 0-1-0 or 1-0-0. This level of food deprivation comprises sleep quality which in turn affects mood, attention, cognition and focus. Specifically, students who skip breakfast find it difficult to concentrate in class.

The hike in kerosine prices might seem light on the surface, but in reality it is a catalyst for a health and academic crisis. The University has a vital role to play. The institution can help ease the situation by partnering with vendors to provide subsidised kerosene to students.

Finally, the students can safeguard their health by eating a lot of fruits and consuming a lot of water daily to complement whatever mechanisms they adopt.