SATURDAY, MAY 04, 2024
Deepa George
“Fear kills more than the virus,” should be a banner put up in most places across our country and definitely in Goa. While the fear of contracting the Covid-19 virus is largely relatable, the most distressing part about this scenario is when fear takes over all sensibility and sensitivity, making humans behave in the most distressing and vile manner against each other. Perhaps, this inherent malaise is what the virus is exposing more than the disease itself.
My own personal experience has left me aghast at how naive and irrational people everywhere but particularly in Goan villages can be. My father who passed away in Mumbai had been ailing from Chronic Kidney Disease (these days one needs to mention the cause given the easy assumption to Covid) and my husband and I travelled to Mumbai by road to attend his funeral on May 31. We got back on June 2 and adhering to all the rules that the State Government has made mandatory, we also paid for and undertook the Covid-19 test at the border on our return, which was declared negative, for us. According to the SOPs dictated by the State government, those who test negative need not be quarantined and the Chief Minister, Pramod Sawant himself has been quoted in the media stating this.
We got back to our home in Aldona, only to realise that what we had been reading about the stigmatisation that follows anyone with the disease, was also true of those who travelled to any state, even if they tested negative. Instead of calling us to address their doubts, people were behaving oddly behind our backs, making up all sorts of stories and ostracising our house help who had come to work on our return. Nowhere in the SOPs or even in communication at the Asilo hospital where our test was done was it stated that we cannot interact with others or move around like normal beings, if our test result is negative. Neither has the government made this a diktat but sadly, the village decided to shun us and stigmatise us - despite having taken all the precautions and tests.
Now, while I completely understand human fear, what gets me upset is the manner in which the fear is revealed and manifested. Instances of stigma and discrimination against medical practitioners - doctors and healthcare personnel are already common. Now, it transcends to even those who have tested negative. I can’t imagine what it must be like for those who test positive for this disease. It’s almost like a sentence meted out to you even before you have a chance to heal and recover.
This makes it imperative for the State Government to address this untoward panic and allay unfounded fears. Communicating that Covid-19 is just like any other respiratory or viral disease and that there is nothing to panic is imperative. Instances of recovery need to be highlighted by the media. .
We need a stigma mitigation strategy on a war footing even while we pay undivided attention to infection control. It isn't that difficult if the government, medical staff and the media make this an important issue to address. This has a direct impact on attitudes that goes a long way in helping people seek help and also recover.
