Ziqitza Rajasthan - Covid-19 and Social Stigma
                     Z iqitza Rajasthan - Covid-19 and Social 
Stigma 
The expansion of the coronavirus and its global reach has been a 
source of alarm and a call for coordinated action to stop it from 
spreading further. While you may be concerned about how to be 
safe during the pandemic, it's vital that we keep coronavirus-
related stigma to a minimum, as it could exacerbate an already 
difficult situation.
 
Individuals have been subjected to verbal and even physical 
harassment around the world because their ethnicity was 
incorrectly linked to the illness.
Everyone who is affected by a public health emergency service is 
under a lot of stress. It's critical to keep informed as well as to be 
polite and supportive of one another. Words have power and 
adopting language that reinforces stereotypes might discourage 
people from getting tested and taking the steps necessary to 
protect themselves and their communities.
What is social stigma? 
In the context of health, social stigma is the negative 
association that develops between a person or group of 
people who share characteristics and a certain illness. 
Because of a perceived association with a disease, persons 
may be labelled, stereotyped, discriminated against, 
treated separately, and/or lose status during an outbreak.
 
Patients with the disease, as well as their caregivers, 
family, friends, and communities, maybe badly affected by 
such treatment. Even if they don't have the condition, 
those who share other features with this group may be 
stigmatised.
Why is COVID-19 causing so much stigma?
The level of stigma associated with COVID-19 is influenced 
by three main factors: 
1) It's a new disease with many unknowns;
2) we're afraid of the unknown; and 
3) it's easy to associate our fear with 'others.'
 
The public's confusion, anxiety, and fear is understandable. 
Regrettably, these factors also contribute to the spread of 
harmful stereotypes.
What is the impact of stigma?
Stigma can destroy social cohesion and lead to social isolation 
among groups, which may contribute to a situation in which the 
virus is more likely to spread, not less. This can lead to more serious 
health problems and make containing a disease epidemic more 
difficult.
Stigma can:
  Encourage people to conceal their disease in order to escape 
discrimination.
  Prevent people from obtaining medical help right away.
   Dissuade people from engaging in good habits.
Dr. Santosh Datar – Medical Director Ziqitza Healthcare limited says 
such treatment can contrarily influence those with the infection, as 
well as them and their family, companions, and networks. 
Individuals who don't have the sickness however
share different attributes with this gathering may likewise 
experience the ill effects of disgrace.
In compliance with National Health Mission (NHM) 
Ziqitza Healthcare has set up 104 medical advice helpline 
which operates 24x7 through a call centre in the state of 
Odisha and Madhya Pradesh. The main objective of this 
helpline was to aid minor phycological illness and 
counselling. During Covid19 pandemic 104 was declared as 
official helpline for COVID related enquires and Ziqitza has 
been managing over 10,000 calls. 
 
The "Saving & Enhancing Lives" mission of Ziqitza Rajasthan 
has resulted in the saving of over 42 million lives, as well as 
the transfer of 2.5 million corona patients and the 
management of over 2 million telehealth calls. 
How to address social stigma
Experts advise people to exhibit empathy for those who are afflicted, 
to learn about the condition, and to take effective, practical steps to 
keep themselves and their loved ones safe. Each of us may help to 
prevent discrimination by being nice, speaking up against negative 
stereotypes, learning more about mental health, and sharing personal 
experiences to provide the essential support.
Words matter
Certain phrases (i.e. questionable case, seclusion) and terminology 
used while discussing coronavirus disease may have a negative 
connotation for some people, fuelling stigmatising attitudes. They 
can reinforce negative stereotypes or beliefs about the condition, 
promote incorrect links between the disease and other causes, 
disseminate dread, and dehumanise those who suffer from it. This 
may cause people to refuse to be screened, tested, or quarantined.
Spread facts, not fear
Inadequate knowledge about how the novel coronavirus disease 
(COVID-19) is spread and treated, as well as how to avoid 
infection, can exacerbate stigma. Here are a few things you can do 
to assist stop misinformation from spreading:
 
  Use only official, reliable sources such as the Ministry of Health, 
the World Health Organisation, and UNICEF.
   Before acting, believing advice, or spreading information 
online, check the facts on official websites or social media 
platforms.
  Spreading false information, even if it appears to be accurate, is 
not a good idea.