Our frontline healthcare workers have remained dedicated and risked their lives to fight against this pandemic. A few thousand of them have already been infected with the virus while working with coronavirus patients. They have worked long hours, sacrificed their personal time with the loved ones in their families, and showed empathy to the infected persons. Therefore, we should recognize their contributions and show a sense of gratitude for their efforts, time, and dedication instead of shunning them.
While the majority of people are inside their houses in these testing times, some professionals have always remained at the forefront. The nature of their work and the demand of the situation has not allowed them to have a single-day break, let alone the indefinite period of forceful holiday. Putting their lives in peril, the medical doctors, nurses, and lab technicians have been providing relentless services to the people. With limited resources, their persistent efforts need to be greatly acknowledged. However, the public responses to their services have appeared humiliating, further undermining their praiseworthy contributions.
Discussion on trust deficit in today’s patient-doctor relationship, Over 2 crore people are seen by doctors daily, which amounts to 730 crore patients in a year. Incidents of major violence occurring once or twice in a year do not amount to calling mistrust against the medical profession a widely prevalent issue. On the one hand, there is a need to have a strict anti-violence law within the purview of an Act and on the other hand, we also need changes in the way the patient-doctor relationship is thought of today.
It is understandable that every new disease creates a sense of confusion, anxiety, and fear among people and more so in case of a situation reeling from uncertainties. With the increase in the number of COVID-19 cases, more healthcare institutions are involved in the treatment and management of the disease throughout the world. This corresponds to the rise in the number of healthcare professionals involved in managing different aspects of the disease. The high infectivity and moderate mortality of COVID-19 have caused a worldwide psychosocial impact by causing mass hysteria, fear, depression, and economic losses. At the same time, we have been observing a considerable increase in incidents of racism, violence, and phobia against particular communities during the pandemic. The spread of infodemic via different social media has had further psychosocial effects on people.
Psychosocial impact
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The role of healthcare workers in times of pandemics is crucial. Nevertheless, frontline healthcare workers are at a higher risk of being infected with the killer virus disease. They are also more likely to experience adverse psychological outcomes such as burnout, anxiety, fear of transmitting as well as contracting infection, depression, increased substance dependence, and PTSD. Unfortunately, infected healthcare workers are suffering immensely from stigma and discrimination throughout the country.
Healthcare workers oftentimes are stigmatized as a vector of contagion. Some are physically abused while others are verbally abused. Reports show that their family members have even been evicted from their homes. Such incidents of violence result in deterioration of quality of care at already overstretched healthcare facilities.
The World Health Organisation has warned that stigma can occur when people negatively associate an infectious disease like COVID-19 with a specific population. According to the UN body, people are unfortunately labeled, stereotyped and could face discrimination because of the potentially negative affiliation with the disease. Such hostile acts stem from misinformation surrounding the disease, as past experiences such as the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS have shown. While stigma could also lead people to hide their illnesses to avoid ostracisation, further complicating infectious disease management, it could also put health care professionals in a precarious position.
Stigma can make people feel isolated and even abandoned. They may feel depressed, hurt, and angry when friends and others in their community avoid them for the fear of getting the disease. This can result in more severe health problems and difficulty in controlling the disease outbreak. Stigma can drive people to hide their illness to avoid discrimination, prevent them from seeking health care immediately, and adopting healthy behaviors.
Stigma can be heightened by insufficient knowledge about how the new coronavirus disease is transmitted and treated, and how to prevent infection. Discrimination can erode the social cohesion of our communities and cause certain groups of people to be ostracised. This can lead to a further spread of the virus as people might be prompted to hide their illnesses and refrain from seeking healthcare in fear of being discriminated against.
Tireless effort and humanity
Our frontline healthcare workers have remained dedicated and risked their lives to fight against this pandemic. A few thousand of them have already been infected with the virus while working with coronavirus patients. They have worked long hours, sacrificed their personal time with the loved ones in their families, and showed empathy to the infected persons. Therefore, we should recognize their contributions and show a sense of gratitude for their efforts, time, and dedication instead of shunning them.
Likewise, we must support health care workers and others who are caring for people with COVID-19 while appreciating their work and sharing positive messages through social media. Police officers, bus drivers, cleaners, and other essential service workers need our full support and we must thank all who continue their essential jobs to help us and our community. Showing compassion to the infected persons helps minimize the negative impacts of stigma. People who are sick with the coronavirus have done nothing wrong; so let’s not treat them differently. If anybody catches the infection, it is not their fault. When the patients and their family members are in distress, they need love, encouragement, and cooperation.
While the governments and frontline workers are doing their best in tackling this emergency, everyone should contribute on their part to spread kindness, solidarity, and support. We have to be supportive and empathetic to them, not only because it could happen to anyone but because we are part of a huge single family called humankind.
At last, the government needs to duly acknowledge the contribution of other frontline workers. Looking after their social wellbeing is equally crucial. As responsible citizens, the onus is on all of us to boost the morale of these workers who have done an amazing job in such a difficult time.
(Dr Budhathoky is the central Treasurer Of Nepal Medical Association.)
