Coimbatore: Even months later after the onset of pandemic, social stigma surrounding COVID is very much prevalent, lament recovered patients.
Coimbatore: Close to eights months after the pandemic outbreak, parts of Coimbatore have been declared containment zones, as more people continue to test positive for the virus.
A Corporation employee appointed to look after a particular containment zone in Church Road, Saibaba Colony say that people inside the containment zone face social stigma.
People in such streets/homes are subjected to constant shame and face criticism fromtheir neighbours. Fearing stigmatisation, many people from such contained areas opt different routes to even go to their houses, told the Corporation staff.
While compassion to fellow neighbours or friends who are affected with Covid is the need of the hour, such ill-treatment by their own neighbours adds to the pain of such patients who are battling financially and mentally to get rid of the disease.
Among many who testified that still neighbours and friends are sceptical to talk to them or visit their houses after Covid recovery, Ravi from Saravanampatti, here who recently recovered from Covid says that the taboo is still very much alive in the society.
He added that such treatment can negatively affect those with the disease, as well as their caregivers, family and neighbourhood.
To the shock and surprise of many came the recent incident in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu, where a COVID positive woman fled from her house to her relatives' home fearing social stigma.
Experts say this is because of lack of awareness among people. Misinformation and fake news are crucial reasons, why people refuse to accept COVID positive cases, feels Naveen Kumar, a Psychiatrist in Coimbatore.
He added that stigma can result in worsening the health problems and pose difficulty for the administrations to control disease outbreak. It can prompt people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination and further prevent people from approaching appropriatehealth care.
The real challenge would be to get past the misinformation and deal with the pandemic and treat people, scientifically, he said.
Another health care expert opined that the unprecedented situation has instilled uncertainty and anxiety among the people who blindly believe biased and inappropriate information circulated in socail media and word of mouth. Not just here, misinformation about COVID-19 is prevalent worldwide and awareness among the masses will reduce such stigmatisation.
Another netizen also cited that Google removes misleading information about COVID-19 from its platforms and how Twitter fact-checks tweets and adds a warning message to provide additional context and information, if a tweet is flagged.
Another expert opines that increase in recovery rate is the only way to change the social stigma. If people start seeing more of their neighbours, family members and friends recover from the virus and get back to work, acceptance and new normalcy will naturally set in.
Coordinated scientific approaches are needed to combat the negative effects of the infodemic of COVID-19 which inturn will kindle empathy towards those who are at risk of stigmatisation.
A Corporation employee appointed to look after a particular containment zone in Church Road, Saibaba Colony say that people inside the containment zone face social stigma.
People in such streets/homes are subjected to constant shame and face criticism fromtheir neighbours. Fearing stigmatisation, many people from such contained areas opt different routes to even go to their houses, told the Corporation staff.
While compassion to fellow neighbours or friends who are affected with Covid is the need of the hour, such ill-treatment by their own neighbours adds to the pain of such patients who are battling financially and mentally to get rid of the disease.
Among many who testified that still neighbours and friends are sceptical to talk to them or visit their houses after Covid recovery, Ravi from Saravanampatti, here who recently recovered from Covid says that the taboo is still very much alive in the society.
He added that such treatment can negatively affect those with the disease, as well as their caregivers, family and neighbourhood.
To the shock and surprise of many came the recent incident in Virudhunagar district in Tamil Nadu, where a COVID positive woman fled from her house to her relatives' home fearing social stigma.
Experts say this is because of lack of awareness among people. Misinformation and fake news are crucial reasons, why people refuse to accept COVID positive cases, feels Naveen Kumar, a Psychiatrist in Coimbatore.
He added that stigma can result in worsening the health problems and pose difficulty for the administrations to control disease outbreak. It can prompt people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination and further prevent people from approaching appropriatehealth care.
The real challenge would be to get past the misinformation and deal with the pandemic and treat people, scientifically, he said.
Another health care expert opined that the unprecedented situation has instilled uncertainty and anxiety among the people who blindly believe biased and inappropriate information circulated in socail media and word of mouth. Not just here, misinformation about COVID-19 is prevalent worldwide and awareness among the masses will reduce such stigmatisation.
Another netizen also cited that Google removes misleading information about COVID-19 from its platforms and how Twitter fact-checks tweets and adds a warning message to provide additional context and information, if a tweet is flagged.
Another expert opines that increase in recovery rate is the only way to change the social stigma. If people start seeing more of their neighbours, family members and friends recover from the virus and get back to work, acceptance and new normalcy will naturally set in.
Coordinated scientific approaches are needed to combat the negative effects of the infodemic of COVID-19 which inturn will kindle empathy towards those who are at risk of stigmatisation.