Call to declare virus symptoms
THE Democratic Nursing Organisation of SA (Denosa) has appealed to members of the public to inform health-care workers about possible Covid-19 symptoms during screenings to prevent the further spread of the virus.
Denosa provincial secretary Mandla Shabangu said some members of the public who went to medical facilities for treatment denied having Covid-19 symptoms.
“Once you establish that the person presented with no symptoms during history taking, the person would be allocated to a ward with people who have no signs, only to later find out that that person has Covid-19,” said Shabangu.
Shabangu said nurses could not be blamed because it was the responsibility of patients to provide truthful information.
Recent reports have indicated that the stigma associated with Covid-19 has caused those infected with the virus to be victimised by loved ones, significant others, neighbours and strangers.
In Chesterville, panic and fear have halted the opening of a field hospital at a local church in the area until further consultation with the community has been conducted.
Ward 24 councillor Sifiso Mngadi said while the initiative was a good idea, there had been no consultation with the community.
Mngadi said that the people on the ground needed to receive more education and information about the virus.
“Sometimes we hear about it on TV or the radio, but some don’t have the privilege of a TV because they are poor and you start having a problem of how to deal with it,” he said.
Dr Jacques Jordaan, lecturer and programme director of the Psychology Programme at the University of the Free State, said those with Covid-19 had become part of a newly stigmatised group that were labelled, stereotyped,
African News Agency (ANA) victimised against.
Jordaan said stigmatisation was mostly an automatic reaction that occurred due to the automatic attitudes that people held about certain topics and groups of people.
“The disadvantage of Covid-19 stigma is that it will lead to those infected being fearful for their lives, hiding their symptoms, and it keeps them from seeking help,” he said.
People steered clear of stigmatised individuals as they feared that they would also be rejected and victimised by others.
“People stay away from and avoid those who have Covid-19, gossip about them, threaten them with violence, and do not offer any help to them.
“This can lead to mental health concerns such as depression, anxiety and loneliness among those with Covid-19.”
Jordaan said stigma was real and could be reduced by extra education for people to obtain a better understanding of the disease.
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