The Regional Democratic Council (RDC) of Region Ten is calling on the Ministry of Social Protection to provide counselling for families affected by COVID-19 stigma.
In a telephone interview, RDC Information Officer Rawle Nelson said that the RDC has written letters to the Ministry of Social Protection to get counselling for families who have complained about being stigmatised for having been tested for COVID-19. However, these letters have been unanswered.
Recently, a Block 22, Wismar, Linden hairdresser told this newspaper that she and her family were being shunned by their neighbours. After her story was published, she said, the treatment meted out to them worsened. “It get worse. Even though it was in the papers the people still think we got the virus and now they vex because they now talking more than ever,” the mother of four said, while adding that she has been trying to remain “calm” because she has to set an example for her children.
She pointed out that it has been even harder for her niece, who was mistaken for someone else and taken to a COVID-19 quarantine facility under the suspicion that she contracted the deadly disease. “I does try to talk to her and tell her not to worry with them. It’s harder on her though. But you know, I thought they would have eased once they see she came back because now she know she is not positive and them, well they don’t even know their status but at least we know ours,” she said, before adding “I am just trying to help my children. I don’t know what to do to stop them from thinking what they think because I can’t see how my niece came back and we’re telling everybody that she was not positive and they still believing whatever ignorance they want to believe.”
While their neighbours’ attitude towards them has not changed, she said that some persons have been kind with trying to assist them with food. “I’m thankful for the help and I try to use whatever lil’ I have for me and my niece family,” she told Stabroek News.
Regional officials confirmed that the family was being stigmatised for having undergone COVID-19 testing and a family member undergoing quarantine at a COVID-19 facility.
Nelson explained that the family has received assistance from persons who donated products and not from the RDC. He said many other families believe that it was the RDC which sent the hampers and as a result are asking for hampers for themselves.
Nelson also said that there is worry for not only the hairdresser’s family but also other families suffering the same fate. Nelson and the Regional Executive Officer, Orrin Gordon, told Stabroek News that they cannot change the other residents’ attitude towards the family but in an effort to help, they are asking the Ministry of Social Protection to provide counselling. Nelson noted that many of the families have young children who are experiencing the harsh treatment and they may be in need of serious psychological counselling.
This newspaper was told that the stigmatisation has not been limited to the hairdresser’s family. Any person who is close to a person who has been suspected to have the virus is being treated as if they too may have contracted the disease and this is in part discouraging persons from coming forward for testing as they fear receiving the same treatment.
Referring to another family who recently had a family member taken to a quarantine facility, a source familiar with the situation said “they are facing indirect stigma… Persons are telling them ‘you know your family had it [COVID-19], why you didn’t say anything?’”
“One of the biggest challenges is getting people to understand anybody could get it,” the source said. “To jump to say that you don’t want people who might have it to be around you is being unreasonable, especially if they already show that they don’t have it.”
The source said people need to keep in mind that some persons can contract COVID-19 but not immediately exhibit symptoms.
The source also voiced concern about persons in the region not abiding by COVID-19 safety measures, including stay at home directives.
