- Mr Olusegun Adekunle, Permanent Secretary, Office of Secretary to Government of the Federation (OSGF), has urged Nigerians to not discriminate against persons diagnosed with COVID-19.
Adekunle, who co-ordinates the activities of the Presidential Task Force (PTF), on COVID-19, made the decision in an interview with the press agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
He said that any sort of discrimination would further leave scars of mental trauma on those infected.
“It is worse for those with existing mental disease . allow us to support them by reducing stigma about them,” he advised.
The Permanent Secretary within the General Services Office, said that the fear and therefore the stigma related to COVID-19 could contribute to the spread of the disease.
“It also can drive people to cover the illness to avoid discrimination. this will lead the person to not seek any medical help.
“Our choice of words matter and that weshould be encouraged to use inclusive language and fewer stigmatising terminologies.
“Phrases like ‘people who have COVID-19’ or ‘people who are being treated for COVID-19’ rather than ‘victims’.
“Let us be positive and inspiring with our words, and that we should avoid the utilization of negative words or messages.
“Stopping stigma is immensely important to creating communities and community members resilient,“ he said.
The permanent secretary stated that stigma robbed individuals of opportunities that outline quality life starting from satisfactory health care to affiliation with a various group of individuals .
He added that it could also hurt those thattry to battle their challenge.
“Stigma hurts those that lost loved ones thanks to the condition or try to support their loved ones as they deal with the condition,” he said.
He noted that the PTF team would stillsupport risk communication activities in sort of campaigns, radio programmes and community engagement across the country.
He called on Nigerians to support the battlefront workers, because they're exposed to risk of infection, long working hours, psychological distress, fatigue, occupational burnout and stigma.
“Let’s support our front-line people and keep them safe from this virus by taking precautions made available by the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NCDC),“ he urged.
Adekunle stressed that to limit COVID-19 spread and resume activity more safely again; Nigerians should wear masks when within six feet of others.
He said that mask-wearing could help prevent a resurgence of the virus with less reliance on lockdowns that have proven economically devastating.
“Remember, viruses don’t discriminate, but people do. Together we will stand against COVID-19 stigma by minding our language. mention it, but don’t gossip and let’s counter misinformation,” he said.
He, however, said that as far as COVID-19 goes, it had proven to overwhelm the healthcare systems of nations that were hard hit.
“In China, additional hospitals had to be inbuilt a matter of days to handle the impact because they didn't have enough beds.
“Equipment shortages are almost certain since those hospitalised with the virus often need ventilators because they can't breathe on their own.
“There are only numerous ventilators and when too many of us need them, it forces doctors to make a decision who gets them and who doesn’t,” he added.
Adekunle implored Nigerians to continue wearing face masks because COVID-19 might be spread by asymptomatic people even once they weren't showing symptoms.
“The virus is “still very contagious,” he said.
Source:- NAN
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