A senior lecturer with the Department of Sociology and Anthropology, UCC, Dr. Edgar Takyi Akonor has predicted that Ghana will soon be battling stigmatization amidst the fight against Covid-19.
Dr. Takyi Akonor expressed concern on the projection of the virus on some local media platforms in an attempt to describe the disease using the local language. His comment is hinged on emerging cases of stigma persons suspected to have the virus, those confirmed to have the virus and people connected to facilities rendering health care to such persons.
Dr. Takyi Akonor believes the authorities concerned must put the right information to the public to combat the teething problem of stigma.
Speaking on ATL FM’s Atlantic wave, Mr Akonor said “The information we all mostly have is that Covid is dangerous, it is a killer, once you get it, and you are going to the next world. I think that it is not the right information. So far as people have this type of mind set, they will definitely stigmatize these people and anything connected to Covid because nobody wants to die prematurely.”
According to him, this could demoralize persons who are in the forefront fighting the virus, adding that elsewhere such individuals would be praised for their heroic deed.
Dr. Takyi Akonor also reiterated that though wearing of PPEs might prove challenging, individuals should learn to cope until a vaccine is detected. He further suggested that recovery centers be operated more humanely.
“We need to have a humane environment where they feel their humanity have not been taken away from them. If we can create facilities where the humanity of these individuals will not be taken away because of this virus,” he noted.
The World Health Organization (WHO) Situation Report-35 on COVID-19 has also observed with great concern on the increasing number of public stigmatization targeting people from areas affected by the pandemic.
As they are being labeled, stereotyped, separated, and/or experience loss of status and discrimination because of a potential negative affiliation with the pandemic.
Also, with the emerging the increase of stigmatization in the West African country, Some Ghanaian Health and Psychology experts have cautioned that the spread of the pandemic is likely to increase if people continue to stigmatize victims of COVID-19.
Source: Pouliwe Nyodi/ATL FM NEWS
