Social stigma associated with Covid-19 needs campaign

Our Correspondent

Hoshiarpur, April 2

The Savera Social Welfare Society on Wednesday urged the Central and the state governments to launch a full-throated campaign to prevent stigma being attached to coronavirus. In a press release issued here on Wednesday, Dr Ajay Bagga, a social activist, and a retired Civil Surgeon, said that no stigma should be attached with coronavirus as was seen in our country during early stages of HIV and AIDS spread. He said false information being circulated in social media about coronavirus was leading to discrimination and this type of discrimination leads to stigmatisation among a section of society. Foot soldiers like health employees and others against Covid-19 are being discriminated and are asked to leave accommodation by their landlords, he added. Dr Bagga said at some places, people are objecting to opening of quarantine centres near their place of living.

Bagga further stated that patients treated successfully after infection of coronavirus and those suspected to have it, migrant labourers and any religious group need not be discriminated. Need is to have specified physical distancing, repeated hand washing with soap and water to prevent Covid-19.

He also urged opinion leaders to speak against discrimination and stigmatisation of Covid-19. He said rather gratitudes be expressed to foot soldiers by sprinkling flowers on health employees, sanitation workers and street vendors for doing excellent work in this period of crisis.