Health staff stigmatised

RURAL health officials face huge challenges when carrying out the Covid-19 awareness and safety measures in villages, a health official said.
Salamaua Health Centre community health worker (CHW) Lyna Bopi said after receiving hands-on training in swabbing and screening facilitated by the Morobe Health Authority, her communities started to fear her thinking that she had the virus.
Bopi said rumours spread across the community that she would pass the Covid-19 to others when they got closer to her.
“It was all discrimination and stigma for me for the past weeks,” she recalled.
“My community feared me because they were misinformed by others.
“My colleagues whom we worked with fear community transmission and distanced themselves from me.
“When I walk into the community, people run away and hide – even little children who usually call me aunty were afraid of me.
“I was surprised, discriminated and frustrated by everyone’s action, but I knew they were misinformed on the issue and that they lacked the right information.
“The treatment was very bad.
“On mornings while trying to catch a boat to Lae for the training, operators and passengers stopped me from getting on, saying that I had the Covid-19 and will pass it to them.
“It was a week-long training I attended while in the village.”
Bopi said she reported the matter to the Huon Gulf administration and the district health manager went to clarify the confusion among the community.
“They explained to the communities that I went there to receive training to help prevent community transmission since the virus was on the rise,” Bopi said.
“Now that everyone is aware, our health team is carrying out awareness on the “nuipela pasin”.