Recently 19 year old girl was thrown out of the bus in UP after the passengers in bus supposed her Covid19 positive by symptoms. Though she wasn't tested positive yet, the driver and the conductor stopped the bus and pulled her out on the midway. Her mother pleaded a lot to them but they weren't convinced. Just after 30 minutes the girl died on the road. Postmortem report stated it 'cardiac arrest' and dead person was not tested for Covid19 as per policy.
Here the question is not either she was Covid19 positive or negetive, but the way she was humiliated by the passengers is the big issue rising day by day. The people on bus shouldn't do so even if she was Covid19 positive. The things happening all around after this pandemic put us on the edge of the bay. Misconceptions are emerging as a big enemy after this pandemic. Even WHO is also serious on this matter and trying to stop this infodemic. [પેન્ડેમિકથી પણ ખતરનાક છે ઇન્ફોડેમિક]
Early days in this pandemic human was threaten spiritually or unconditionally. We were assuming that the nature is on reconstruction mode. But suddenly after the unlock phase this humanity flew away. A medico friend of mine in Ahmedabad was honoured by his resident society and very next day he was asked to leave the house by his landlord just because he was deputed in corona ward in his hospital. What kind of people they are! Though humiliation of corona warriors is the common thing now a days and even some laws have been also enforced to protect them but we didn't see the result to eliminate this stigma.
Times of India has recently reported that more than a dozen dead bodies were found in hoapital without claimant in Ahmedabad. Their relatives were contacted and even police department traced them but unfortunately they weren't happy to claim the body of their own family members. As per the policy, the hospital has to keep a dead body for seven days. If there is no claimant till then, the body can be disposed of as per government protocol after permission from the police surgeon. However, the hospital kept the bodies for 15 days in mortuary in the hope that someone might come forward to claim them. But then the hospital authority had to perform the funeral. Is this only Covid19 stigma or something else like social intimacy failure?
Locals in Chennai denied the burial of a neurosurgeon Dr Simon Hercules who had died of Covid-19. The crowd pelted stones, hit people with sticks in fear that the burial will spread the virus. There is no scientific data to prove that cadavers could transmit SARSCoV2. Proper handling during cremation or burials can therefore significantly lower this risk. But the infection in mind is surely more infectious than corona virus. Corona is almost not a big deal at all but the stigma attached with the covid patients smashes out all the humanity from the homo sapiens.
Even some of the health professionals are also part of spreading this stigma. If you believe that corona warriors are playing the vital role now a days, it's true and agree but some of them are treating patients like criminals. For the survival purpose it's necessary to take some precautions but that doesn't mean you keep patients away from you as you are lazy to perform the safety measures. Such health professionals aren't the problem of the pandemic only, their routine service is also coated with the cover of laziness which is highly reflected in the government hospitals.
Covid positive patients aren't declared by name on media though their identities are revealed by social media. I thought it's a necessary part to aware the people by disclosing the names but this society proved me wrong. The declared names are projected as discrimination. India is already known for the lots of discrimination based on cast, religion, gender and now Covid19 positive category is newly added to this bucket. Even in villages this discrimination is poured into mindsets. The family of a Covid19 positive patient in my province was totally differentiated from the society. Yes being quorantine is a necessary protocol to follow but even after the completion of this period and even after the recovery of the patient the whole family is seperated from the society just because of nothing. These patients suffer a lot from the mental harrasment rather than covid.
Stigma is a one type of brainwashing idea which don't let you accept the truth easily. Stigma becomes more dangerous when it joins the selfishness. As stated in above unfortunate incidents the selfish people lead the idea of misconceptions and trend it to the mob. The mob is a crowd of mindless people. So you can expect the worst. The fight against stigma is more difficult than fight against corona. Stigma weakens the battle against corona and the country is paying for it today. Very distinct line between care and fear I see. A fool always leads the fear and a smart step leads to the care and safety. It's just a matter of discretion.
Final Funda: A man with mask and gloves came out of the house. He stood up in his street. The mobile phones all around the neighborhood were capturing him. No, he wasn't a celebrity. He was just Covid19 positive and departing for the hospital admission by ambulance.
Raise your voice against stigma of Covid19 by uploading your image in following link. It will generate your identity as a warrior against stigma.
Comments
Post a Comment