Help fight Covid-19 related stigmatisation, discrimination
FEAR of the Covid-19 virus has led to stigmatisation of those who have been infected with the virus, are suspected of having been in contact with it or have ethnic origins in a country where it has been rampant.
While it is important for all of us to avoid contact with someone who is currently infected with the virus and could pass it onto us, it is important not to treat them negatively or with disdain or to stigmatise those who have been in or whose ethnic origins are in a country where the virus has been rampant.
Stigma has been described as a mark of shame or disgrace which distinguishes someone negatively from others. In the field of health, stigma occurs when a particular group of people are negatively associated with a specific disease.
In relation to Covid-19, because it is such a devastating disease there may be a tendency to stigmatise anyone entering the country from abroad, particularly if they were living in or are coming from a country badly affected by the disease, even if they have been through the mandatory quarantine period and have been cleared of being currently infected with the coronavirus.
ere may even be a tendency to stigmatise people of a certain nationality or ethnic origin simply because their ethnic origin lies in a country where the pandemic has been particularly devastating or where it was first discovered, even if those people have not been in their country of origin since the outbreak of the pandemic.
Such stigmatisation can lead to discrimination, isolation and harassment.
Who is affected?
At the moment, people who may be experiencing stigma as a result of Covid-19 include people from countries badly affected by the Covid-19 virus, particularly from China because the virus was first discovered there, people who have travelled to other countries or have returned home from living abroad, emergency responders or health care professionals and people who have been quarantined or isolated or are currently in quarantine or isolation.
Others affected include people who have tested positive for Covid-19 as well as homeless people.
Stigmatisation harmful
ose who are stigmatised may experience social rejection or even physical violence. ey may be denied healthcare, education, housing or employment.
ese experiences may negatively affect people’s mental health and reduce their ability to cope with stresses currently being faced as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Stigmatised people are also more likely to experience poorer physical and mental health, especially during pandemics.
Stigma, bias, discrimination and other types of aggressive behaviour are inappropriate responses to diseases and illnesses. ese actions only worsen the threat to public health and make it harder to keep everyone healthy.
In the case of the Covid-19 pandemic, some people may avoid being tested for the disease for fear of being stigmatised. If they are tested and found to be positive they may decide not to disclose their status resulting in virus spreading.
Avoid stigmatisation
ere are several things you can do as an individual to fight stigma and strengthen the well-being of your community. Firstly, you need to know the correct facts about the pandemic. e city of Wuhan in China is simply the location where the coronavirus was first observed. ose with Chinese or any other ancestry are no more vulnerable to Covid-19 than you. is virus can make anyone unwell. ere is no one race or ethnicity at higher risk of contracting or spreading Covid-19 than any other.
People who have completed the 14-day quarantine period or have been released from quarantine centres are not at risk of infecting others. Older adults and people of any age with serious underlying chronic health conditions, such as heart, lung or kidney disease, are at a higher risk of serious complications from Covid-19. ey may seem more worried about contracting the virus and have every right to be so because of their vulnerability.
We need to be compassionate and support those directly impacted by Covid-19, such as frontline health care workers, emergency responders and individuals who have contracted the virus. Respect everyone’s privacy and the confidentiality of medical information. Support those who are in quarantine or isolation because they are protecting the health of their community.
Stay informed through trusted sources of information, such as the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organisation. Discuss with others about the harm stigma causes. Be aware of your own biases and take steps to stop them. Make an effort to politely correct any misinformation or discriminatory language you hear or see.
It is important that you do not make assumptions about other people’s health status based on their ethnicity, race, national origin or the fact that they have recently come back home from abroad.
Help to protect people’s jobs and livelihoods. Covid-19 has caused a huge economic crisis and had a dramatic impact on the world of work within a short time. Millions of people have lost their jobs and livelihoods due to lockdowns and closure of economic activities.
While recovery plans are being made, it is important to ensure that those who are affected by Covid-19 face no stigma because they may now be unemployed and are not discriminated against when they go back to their workplaces or economic activities, especially after recovering from the virus.
Take some time to engage with affected individuals and communities. Engagement with people who have recovered from Covid-19 can lead to increased awareness of the facts concerning the disease and reduce stigma and discrimination. It is possible to engage with other people, while at the same time observing the Covid-19 prevention protocols such as maintaining a social distance from others and wearing masks.
Share positive stories about Covid-19 patients who have survived the virus. Remember that behind all the statistics of confirmed cases, recoveries and deaths are individual human beings.In the past, people living with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), who also suffered from stigma and discrimination, made a huge difference to HIV stigmatisation by sharing their stories with their family and friends and sometimes even with members of the public. is approach can be applied to Covid-19 as well.
e information in this article is provided as a public service by the Cimas iGo Wellness programme, which is designed to promote good health. It is provided for general information only and should not be construed as medical advice. Readers should consult their doctor or clinic on any matter related to their health or the treatment of any health problem. — igo@cimas. co.zw or WhatsApp 0772 161 829 or phone 024-2773 0663.