Need for campaign to fight Covid-19 stigma: Bukhari

QUOTE: Bukhari said: “As we stand at the threshold of fighting the virus, we cannot import western models of health communication and apply them blindly in our context. We need to take our socio-cultural factors into account while formulating campaigns to fight Covid-19.” Altaf Bukhari, Apni Party president

Tribune News Service

Srinagar, June 11

In the backdrop of reports of people concealing Covid-19 symptoms and fleeing quarantine centres, Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party president Syed Mohammad Altaf Bukhari on Thursday urged the Union Territory government to start a media campaign for removing the social stigma associated with the coronavirus.

“For striking a balance between an ailing economy and tackling the pandemic, the Government of J&K should simultaneously fight the shame associated with the disease which compels the people to conceal their symptoms,” the JKAP president said.

He said there were multiple instances wherein people had fled quarantine facilities and isolation wards at hospitals, creating an arduous task for the authorities.

“The concerns about social stigma often influence the decisions about the health issues in this part of the world. This needs to be changed. To fight a virus at this scale, people need to beat the stigma and social ostracisation at every level. The government must come forward in this regard to help the people through vast public awareness,” he said.

Bukhari said the government of J&K needed to destigmatise the concept of quarantine as well.

He further said in case the government allowed the business units and markets to function, it needed to identify ways in which social distancing could be practiced in the congested localities.