Avoid stigma, be properly informed

The National Editorial

NATIONAL Capital District (NCD) residents have been told to present themselves for testing if they have developed any Covid-19 symptoms, even if mild.
By going for a test, you will know your status, which will help you get the help you need and stop you from spreading the virus to others, including your loved ones.
There are four urban clinics in NCD – Badili, Tokarara, Morata and Gordon – that are now doing swabbing for Covid-19 tests for those with symptom.
Test results will be ready within a short time for free.
The common symptoms of Covid-19 include cough, fever, headache, difficulty breathing, sore throat, loss of taste or smell and muscle aches.
Pandemic Response Controller and Police Commissioner David Manning explained that getting tested helped authorities find cases in the community as quickly as possible and to manage the pandemic.
The Covid-19 pandemic provoked social stigma and discriminatory behaviours, especially targeted at health workers and emergency responders, persons known to have been sick with the virus (even if they have recovered), people who had to undergo quarantine and anyone perceived to have been in contact with the virus such as travellers.
Many people were scared of going for test because it has not been explained well to them.
But as time went by, more people started going for tests for Covid-19 and unfortunately it is well below one per cent of the population.
So far, Papua New Guinea has only conducted around 50,000 tests since the pandemic started.
It all goes back to how information was tailored to the specific situation which can then increase the efficiency of information dissemination and provide people with more time and accurate information to be informed and make better decisions.
It seems awareness materials used going forward should be more on using graphics as it can easily capture one’s attention.
Use simple language and avoid clinical terms.
Majority of our people do not have much education and are gullible to whatever information that is spread.
That is how panic will start.
Creating fear and stigma is not the best option to dealing with any outbreak of coronavirus.
Stigma can undermine social solidarity and prompt possible social isolation of groups, which might contribute to a situation where the virus is more, not less, likely to spread.
This can result in more health problems and difficulties controlling further outbreaks.
Stigma can drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination, prevent people from seeking health care immediately and discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours.
The way we communicate can affect the attitude of others.
So, the public should follow these simple but important health measures for Covid-19:

  • HAND hygiene – wash your hands frequently at least for 20 seconds;
  • COUGH etiquette – cover your cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue and throw the tissue into a bin after you finish;
  • WEAR a face mask or face covering in public spaces;
  • AVOID crowds or enclosed buildings; and,
  • PRACTICE physical distancing of 1.5 to 2 metres when out in public such as hand hygiene, cough etiquette, physical distancing, avoiding crowded places and wearing masks.

Covid-19 respects no national boarders, no social bounds, no political systems and no cultural values.
It hits us just as hard, it levels the world.
Facing the pandemic, it is not what happened matters, it is how we respond.