PANJIM: The Congress has urged the State government to take serious cognisance of the COVID-19 pandemic’s psychological ticking time-bomb that could explode.
In a letter to Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, Congress media cell convenor Trajano D’Mello said that the predicted third wave is adding to the present COVID-19 wave trauma, which is further escalating with new types of fungus surfacing.
It cannot be denied that the mental health is being affected across all strata of society. The children being away from school without the traditional methods of teaching and sports activity and not being able to socialise with their friends which is bound to affect their all round development, Trajano said.
Also the working class is under a lot of stress, the daily wage earners, jobs being cut, partial salaries paid and many other issues that add to their pain and suffering which is traumatic. The medical frontline workers are overworked and have to take serious and difficult decisions in saving lives, he stated in his letter
“You will agree that it is traumatic and heart-wrenching to see or to come to know of your dear ones, friends, neighbours, who are struggling for survival or who have passed away,” Trajano said adding, “I would like to make it clear that it is this state of mind that the opposition’s criticism of you handling the pandemic and your clever and crafty defence has become irrelevant to the people of our State.”
It is in these circumstances, the Congress leader has requested the Chief Minister to start centres of helpline counselling especially in the rural areas, who are suffering the most in this pandemic trauma.
Receiving counselling is still a taboo in Goa particularly in the rural areas. The State government has a task ahead to act with urgency to quell this trauma before it explodes, Trajano said.
