The pandemic covid-19 which has swept the globe is showing no signs of ebbing currently in India. As the previous name and prefix – novel (coronavirus) rightly suggests, it is an alien virus which has never been seen before by our scientists but unfortunately and unsurprisingly a facade of the national and global response to this is all too familiar and has been instrumental in spreading a new contagion – stigmatization.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General WHO voiced his concern during a media briefing, he said, “Our greatest enemy right now is not the virus itself. It’s fear, rumours and stigma.”
Nothing shows the ineptness of the state more than unpreparedness in the face of panic driven social ostracisation and vigilantism which has stemmed from the stigmatization. In an appalling incident, health workers in Madhya Pradesh’s Indore were pelted with stones by locals after they tried to screen residents of a locality for COVID-19. Reports pouring in from all over the country described how the medical staff and doctors who are at the forefront of fighting COVID-19 are being evicted from their homes by the landlords. Just a week before a similar incident came to the light where the Air India crew members who went abroad to rescue Indians from coronavirus hit countries and brought them home safely are being ostracized by the Residents Welfare Association (RWAs) and their neighbors.
Stigmatization has led to xenophobia-racism against the Chinese people and people of East Asian and Southeast Asian descent and appearance around the world. Last week, a 25 year old woman from Manipur was spat on when she stepped out to buy groceries in the Delhi University area. The man, who was riding a scooter, called her “corona”. In Pune, a young woman, also from Manipur, was teased by men at a mall, who told her “coronavirus aa gaya!”
Stigmatization has also triggered Islamophbia and increased communal tensions. Muslim gatherings organised by the Tablighi Jamaat has resulted in large increased of cases in India. Even as details about the congregation emerged on national news, #CoronaJihad, #NizamuddinIdiots, #Covid-786 (a number that carries religious meaning for Mulsims), began trending. Islamophobic memes have also been circulating – one meme, for instance, shows China as the “producer” of the virus, and Muslims as its “distributors”.
The aforementioned incidents lead us to define Social stigma as negative association between a person or group of people who share certain characteristics and a specific disease. In an outbreak, this may mean people are labelled, stereotyped, discriminated against, treated separately, and/or experience loss of status because of a perceived link with a disease.
The level of stigma associated with COVID-19 is based on three main factors: 1) it is a disease that’s new and for which there are still many unknowns; 2) we are often afraid of the unknown; and 3) it is easy to associate that fear with ‘others’. It is understandable that there is confusion, anxiety, and fear among the public. Unfortunately, these factors are also fueling harmful stereotypes.
Another way to look at stigmatization is the bearing that it has on the self, posing multifarious ramifications ranging from stress to anxiety to self-loathing. WHO on their website have started a three module course on COVID-19, in module 2 it is made clear that till now the animal reservoir of this virus is not identified, like this, many important questions remains unanswered. These are relatively early days for understanding the full complexity of this disease. An air of fear has enveloped us
The leap of logic is akin to the flight of imagination resulting in anxiety leading to stigma. The fear of unknown is powerful and we feel exhausted in the face of many unknowns. One of the ways people try to find control is to turn fear into anger and blame, a phenomenon which has rattled everyone from people to experts to leaders. When an illness is viewed as something shameful or somehow “your fault,” the risk of self-stigmatization is considerably higher.
Experiencing self stigma is associated with the feelings of guilt and shame of having a disease that you may have unwittingly passed on to loved ones, along with fears of how other people will perceive that. It can have catastrophic impact.
Stigma can undermine social cohesion and prompt possible social isolation of groups, which might contribute to a situation where the virus is more, not less, likely to spread. This can result in more severe health problems and difficulties controlling a disease outbreak. Stigma can: Drive people to hide the illness to avoid discrimination, Prevent people from seeking health care immediately, Discourage them from adopting healthy behaviours.
STIGMA AND WORDS –
Unlike TB, where it took decades for the impact of language on real and perceived stigma to be recognized and for appropriate language to be developed, the World Health Organization has already released language guides for media reporting on COVID-19.
When talking about coronavirus disease, certain words (i.e suspect case, isolation…) and language may have a negative meaning for people and fuel stigmatizing attitudes. They can perpetuate existing negative stereotypes or assumptions, strengthen false associations between the disease and other factors, create widespread fear, or dehumanise those who have the disease.
This can drive people away from getting screened, tested and quarantined. A ‘people-first’ language that respects and empowers people in all communication channels, including the media is recommended. Words used in media are especially important, because these will shape the popular language and communication on the new coronavirus (COVID-19). Negative reporting has the potential to influence how people suspected to have the new coronavirus (COVID-19), patients and their families and affected communities are perceived and treated.
The official name for the disease was deliberately chosen to avoid stigmatisation – the “co” stands for Corona, “vi” for virus and “d” for disease, 19 is because the disease emerged in 2019. Yet there are several instances where politicians and reporters have used some dehumanizing terms such as “Chinese virus”, “wuhan virus”, “kung flu virus”, “COVID19 suspect” and “super-spreader”.
At a news conference a reporter asked Mr. Trump, “And do you think, using the term ‘Chinese virus’, that puts Asian-Americans at risk, that people might target them?”
“No, not at all,” Trump reiterated. “I think they probably would agree with it 100 percent. It comes from China.”
WHO’s guidelines say –
DO – talk about “people who may have COVID-19” or “people who are presumptive for COVID-19”
Don’t – talk about “COVID-19 suspects” or “suspected cases”.
While some our news channels –
DO – talk about people “acquiring” or “contracting” COVID-19
Don’t talk about people “transmitting COVID-19” “infecting others” or “spreading the virus” as it implies intentional transmission and assigns blame.
A NY Times article –
DO – speak accurately about the risk from COVID-19, based on scientific data and latest official health advice.
Don’t – repeat or share unconfirmed rumours, and avoid using hyperbolic language designed to generate fear like “plague”, “apocalypse” etc.
DO – talk positively and emphasise the effectiveness of prevention and treatment measures. For most people this is a disease they can overcome. There are simple steps we can all take to keep ourselves, our loved ones and the most vulnerable safe.
Don’t – emphasise or dwell on the negative, or messages of threat. We need to work together to help keep those who are most vulnerable safe.
WHO’s guidelines stresses on ethical journalism by stating –
Ethical journalism: Journalistic reporting which overly focuses on individual behaviour and patients’ responsibility for having and “spreading COVID-19” can increase stigma of people who may have the disease. Some media outlets have, for example, focused on speculating on the source of COVID-19, trying to identify “patient zero” in each country. Emphasizing efforts to find a vaccine and treatment can increase fear and give the impression that we are powerless to halt infections now. Instead, promote content around basic infection prevention practices, symptoms of COVID-19 and when to seek health care.
ANGELINA JOLIE EFFECT GONE WRONG?
The term “Angelina Jolie effect” was coined by public health communication researchers to account for increased Internet searches about breast cancer genetics and testing for several years after 2013 actress Angelina Jolie underwent a much-reported preventative double mastectomy. The “effect” suggests that celebrity endorsements from trusted sources can be effective at influencing the public to seek health knowledge, their attitudes towards and uptake of healthcare services for Covid-19.
The case of Kanika Kapoor generated much hype in the media and also amongst the common people with several politicians highlighting it. It raised a furore with her being booked under several sections of IPC. if for one moment we stray aside the legalities of the matter and think sanely – was it right to file an FIR against someone who has tested positive for coronavirus? This may deter people from informing the health authorities.
The list of politicians, actors or athletes who have contracted corona have generated less awareness but more gossip. Some famous cases are – Mr. Boris Johnson, Tom Hanks, Kevin Durant, etc.
WHAT NEXT ?
It would be in everyone’s best interest if the media and the government engage more in empowering positive conversation as they are wrested with the power of informing masses. They should act maturely and should try to make people aware while at the same de-stigmatizing and de-sanitizing all the ills which has plagued our society.
TRUTH ADVOCATOR 