Stigmatization before coronavirus has been predominant in our society, and it is such a big problem and has not ceased. Coronavirus is a health crisis that has profoundly challenged the Church and Christians. But in this church age, people continue to stigmatize and discriminate against people with certain medical conditions. The deadly coronavirus outbreak has provoked social stigma and discriminatory behaviors against people perceived to have contracted the virus.
Responding to stigma and prejudice against coronavirus patients has been a major concern of many as well as myself.
For the purpose of this article, I will tell you the story of these individuals Matilda Agamu and her husband, Bernard in Bolgatanga and Mr. Tey in Tema, perhaps you might have heard their stories of being stigmatized on news, who got infected with COVID – 19 but are now negative and had since been declared recovered but members of the society won’t allow them to enjoy their life – why because they contracted COVID -19 through no fault of theirs.
Matilda is a pregnant woman and a trader married to Bernard both residents of Bolgatanga in the Upper East Region of Ghana, who got infected with coronavirus, how she and the husband got infected I won’t be able to bring you but, both have now recovered. But before she recovered what happened? She was stigmatized, she was called names and on the recovering bed, she was called on the phone by members of society and some co-traders who told her numerous things which are uncalled for. In fact, some traders warned her not to step into the market because she has coronavirus and she will infect them if she comes to the market to sell. Aside from that, the most annoying aspect of the whole case was when their eight (8) yr old daughter was stone by her colleagues whiles adults stood looking. Very pathetic. I wonder what will be going through your mind if it happens to you or your family member. That’s just a brief story about the case of Matilda.
For Mr. Tey, his wife and children also went through a similar situation where fingers are being pointed at them, their customers won’t buy from their store anymore because the head of that family got infected with COVID-19. We all know that thousands of health workers have succumbed to the virus globally in their line of duty in their efforts to curb the spread of this virus, some also suffered stigma from their own colleagues who ought to know better and protect their own Country.
Stigmatization has been ongoing in almost every aspect of our lives. Until the outbreak of this coronavirus, people were stigmatized for contracting (HIV/AIDS, STI’S, BARRENNESS) and the list goes on. As we know this particular virus is NEW, hence the name NOVEL and every human being is 100% likely to contract this virus unknowingly until the symptoms are shown unlike the case of asymptomatic, so why should some members of the public do these things? Anyway, am asking
1. Is it the fault of these people to get infected with the virus?
2. Why should people be called names for contracting the virus?
3. Why should they be stopped from going about their usual activity because they contracted coronavirus and now have recovered?
4. Why should fingers be pointed at these people?
With this attitude, how sure are we that some citizens who got infected or who will be infected will even call the emergency number(s) or go to the hospital or use the COVID-19 app? because this virus is coming to stay or won’t go now until a vaccine is discovered. Perhaps, they will prefer to treat the virus home and if care is not taken this will result in deaths, a recipe for disaster, and certainly a course for worry to the entire nation because the virus is new and it is still undergoing studies. Well, we hope this doesn’t happen but it behooves on us as citizens to play our part in taking these people into the community and show them love. Nobody will be happy to contract this virus especially when we were all one way or the other under psychological pressure during the lockdown. Imagine being in an isolation center for weeks alone.
Elsewhere, those who have contracted the virus and have been declared recovered are given applause and welcome in the community with much love, a sign they have gone to war some way so how and are back.
On a more serious note, these people for a fact know their status as COVID -19 is concerned as compared to those who call others names. If we continue with this attitude I beg to differ the fight against this virus won’t be achieved.
If you ask me the question; “Should Stigmatization Be Criminalized?“, I will say YES when especially the life of an innocent 8 yr old girl is involved. Why stone her because the parents had COVID 19 and have recovered? We cannot wait for her and others die before we stand up to say this and do the things we are doing now. Of course, we need to kill or do away with the attitude of stigmatizing people. Individuals who will be caught in this act should be made to undergo serious punishment.
I believe in order to fight this and other viruses/diseases we all have a role to play in accepting these people back into the community and assisting them with the necessary resources to make life meaningful. They are not evils or devils, contracting the virus does not make you automatically dead. Let’s do our part. WHO has a guide for coronavirus stigmatization. This guide for preventing and addressing the social stigma associated with the coronavirus disease. The guide was produced by UNICEF, the World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC).