Thread by @PIBMumbai

My biggest challenge is to ensure that affected people are treated with compassion, and not stigmatized. - Health Minister @drharshvardhan

Let us take special care in ensuring that we empathize with and provide support to people and families infected with #COVID19.

1/n 🧵

We need to reach out to those people who are afraid to come forward & seek #COVID19 treatment because of the stigma we have attached. Delayed treatment due to the stigma & fear is costing us precious lives.
- Director, #AIIMS
#SayNoToStigma #SaveLives
2/n

https://twitter.com/PIB_India/status/1253312055697801217

How to defeat #Stigma in the #FightAgainstCoronavirus?

1. They are people, not victims/cases

2. Don't disclose info about affected people

3. Rely on authentic sources (@MoHFW_INDIA /@WHO etc)

4. Share positive stories

5. Respect #CoronaWarriors

@COVIDNewsByMIB @MIB_India

Beat the #Stigma and the #CoronaVirus; both cost lives

Learn about the preparedness of our #HealthcareHeroes from the link below

#SpreadTheWord, because one of the reasons of discrimination against them is our ignorance!

➡️

@COVIDNewsByMIB @MIB_India

Covid_19 के साथ जुड़े सामाजिक भेदभाव को बढ़ावा ना दें:

✔#Coronavirus रोगियों से भेदभाव ना करें
✔उनकी जानकारी सबको ना दें
✔अफवाहों से बचें
✔ सकारात्मक रवय्या अपनाएँ
✔#CoronaWarriors का सम्मान करें

#HelpUsToHelpYou
#IndiaFightsCoronavirus

@PIBHindi
@COVIDNewsByMIB

Through #SignLanguage, @WHO says 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿

Calls for ‘people-first’ language by communication channels / media, who shape popular language & attitudes to #COVID19

Check out what more we can do

#SpreadTheWord

#AccessibleIndia @MSJE_AIC @socialpwds @TCGEHLOT

To win the #WarAgainstVirus, we need to defeat the stigma associated with the #COVID19 infection.

Governments, citizens, media and key influencers have an important role to play in this.

@NITIAayog is holding a session on this today

Watch, from🕞PM ➡️

To address stigma, Govt. has amended #EpidemicDiseasesAct to protect healthcare service personnel & others giving #COVID services

But the bigger challenge is addressing the rejection arising from fear & lack of awareness of #COVID19 - Health Secretary

https://twitter.com/NITIAayog/status/1253990194728120320

#DidYouKnow

About 80% of those getting infected with #COVID19 recover without the need for any special treatment - Luv Agarwal, Joint Secretary, @MoHFW_INDIA

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

The good news is that 20% of people infected with #COVID19 in India have already recovered - Joint Secretary, @MoHFW_INDIA

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

There are 307 green zones where no case of #COVID19 has been reported for the last 28 days or more

297 districts are orange zones, where relatively low no. of cases has been reported - @MoHFW_INDIA

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

From 3.4 days before lockdown, the doubling time of #COVID19 cases has improved to 9.1 now

- Joint Secretary, @MoHFW_INDIA

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

Joint Secretary, @MoHFW_INDIA explains why we should follow #SocialDistancing

The no. of people one infected person can end up infecting in one month comes down from 406 with no social distancing to 2.5 with 75% adherence to social distancing measures

https://twitter.com/PIBMumbai/status/1250763467281313793

Joint Secretary, @MoHFW_INDIA outlines the various steps that need to be followed to prevent #COVID19 infection

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

There is an element of stigma which is getting attached with #COVID19, all of us need to collectively work on addressing this - @MoHFW_INDIA

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

We should never disclose the names or localities of those affected or under #COVID19 quarantine

Don't label any community or area for spread of #COVID2019

- JS, @MoHFW_INDIA, highlighting the need to address stigma

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

A challenge in #fightingcovid19 is to put an end to stigma against #patients & #healthcare workers.
While Govt has initiated a systematic campaign to address #Covid19Stigma, NGOs & CSOs can mobilize community to ensure sensitization - JS, @MoHFW_INDIA

While most people understand the risk posed by #COVID19 and the precautions need to be taken, most people are not aware of the symptoms of the #COVID2019 infection - @MoHFW_INDIA

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

An intensive campaign along the lines of @swachhbharat or #PolioFreeIndia is required to reduce stigma against frontline service providers, patients and marginalized people - @MoHFW_INDIA

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

We need to focus on health response, social protection and psycho-social support, with the help of various civil society organizations - JS, @MoHFW_INDIA during interaction with civil society

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

We want people to know that:

Anyone can get infected
No need to fear after recovery
Quarantine centres are to protect patients
Pre-symptomatic people can spread #COVID19, they also need to take preventive measures

- JS, @MoHFW_INDIA

#IndiaFightsCoronavirus

We need to view our frontline service providers as champions and protectors

We need to understand that there is no risk of transmission from recovered #COVID19 patients, moreover they are potential healers

- @MoHFW_INDIA

#IndiaFightsCoronavirus

We need to ensure that migrant workers and their family members are able to avail of all benefits government is providing them. Our communication tools should inform them of these benefits.

- Joint Secretary, @MoHFW_INDIA

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

For kind attention of all media and communication organizations and community organizations who are using communication tools and / or reaching out to people:

Our messages should target the heart, not the head alone - @MoHFW_INDIA

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

Stigma stems from fear of the disease and of the unknown. We need compassionate communication which highlights technical advances around cure, people who have cured and areas marked safe, employing positive imagery and voices of influencers - Ms. Archana
#IndiaFightsCorona

There is stigma and fear psychosis

We need:
✅Peer education in healthcare segment
✅Behaviour Change Communication campaign tailored to different target segments
✅Welcome messages for migrants
✅Involvement of grass-root associations
- Jagadananda, Founder Member, CYSD

Elders are already isolated, food being provided to them through Elders' SHGs

Messaging on "#SocialDistancing" leading to people shying away from helping elders

@NITIAayog helping us in movement of our medical vans treating older people

- Mathew Cherian, CEO, @HelpAgeIndia_

The stigma against infected patients and frontline workers is at various levels of the society, we need a clear communication strategy to address it

- Amod Kanth, Founder, Prayas NGO, at @NITIAayog session on #COVID19 stigma

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

We assure to work with NGOs and Civil Society Organizations for sourcing and disseminating communication material addressing stigma, have put in place an NGO repository for this

We should help people focus on protection, #COVID19 not a death sentence

- Hari Menon, @BMGFIndia

We need to turn out to a stronger positive messaging, stating that we are winning the #WarAgainstVirus, without losing focus on the need for caution -

Srinivas, @tatatrusts at the @NITIAayog interactive session on #COVID19 stigma

➡️ #IndiaFightsCorona

There is a lot of misinformation about #COVID19, leading to wrong perceptions and unfounded fears about the disease. We need more compassionate messaging, and a compassionate face in the local administration to convey the messages.

- Naresh Nain, NGO Pradan

#IndiaFightsCorona

Need of the hour is to be more sensitive in communication, more compassionate in messaging and to understand that there is no need to panic:

CEO @amitabhk87, at @NITIAayog interactive session on Stigmatization of #COVID19

➡️pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa…

#IndiaFightsCorona

A major challenge is addressing the rejection arising from fear and lack of awareness of #COVID19 among public:

Health Secretary Preeti Sudan, at @NITIAayog interactive session on Stigmatization of #COVID2019

Read➡️pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa…

#IndiaFightsCorona

Our messages should target the heart, not the head alone:

Luv Agarwal, Joint Secretary, Health Ministry addressing Civil Society and NGOs engaged in fighting #COVID19

➡️pib.gov.in/PressReleasePa…

#IndiaFightsCorona

(end of thread 🧵on the @NITIAayog interactive session)