Stigma behind higher mortality: AIIMS chief

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Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 23

AIIMS, New Delhi, Director Randeep Guleria, one of the top leaders of India’s Covid-19 response, today said stigma against carriers of the disease and the infected was causing higher mortality by deterring people from coming forward for early testing and care.“Covid-19 is not that serious. Around 90 to 95 per cent people will recover with supportive treatment and oxygen therapy, but due to delay by symptomatic people in seeking treatment we are seeing higher mortality. If they come early they will recover through early medical care but if they come late when they are already gasping for breath there will be higher mortality,” Guleria said adding that several Indian hospitals had started using convalescent plasma therapy as a treatment option for Covid patients and many of the cured have voluntarily donated their plasma for others. The therapy involves administering antibody rich plasma of cured Covid patients to those still fighting the disease. “We are already looking at other drug options, including hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, some repurposed drugs and some newer drugs,” said Guleria asking everyone to treat the carriers of Covid as symbols of hope and victory rather than stigmatise them.

‘People reluctant to seek medical help’

Because of the stigma many people with flu-like symptoms are not coming forward to facilities. They are coming very late, leading to higher mortality. — Randeep Guleria, AIIMS-Delhi Director

He urged everyone to encourage symptomatic people to seek early medical care and get tested early.

He said since 80 per cent people will have mild illness and 15 per cent will need oxygen support to recover, India’s strategy going forward is to increase the number of hospital beds with oxygen support.