People visit hospitals in the night for COVID-19 tests to avoid social stigma

Published On: June 5, 2021 03:15 PM NPT By: RSS

SINDHULI, June 5: People with symptoms of COVID-19 here have been going to the health centres for tests in the dark of night to avoid the social stigma attached to this disease.

The locals of Dudhauli municipality have been visiting the health facilities mostly during night to get tested for coronavirus infection.

It is said COVID-19 is spreading wider and faster in the community as people are not readily coming for tests. The infected people are more fearful of the community than the disease itself due to the social stigma associated with this viral infection.

Dr Dhirendra Kumar Suda, the In-Charge of Sirthauli COVID-19 Hospital, said the risk of spread of infection is alarming as people showing symptoms stay home rather than visiting health centers for tests.

"During the day, it is quiet here at the testing centre. But when it is night many people come seeking a coronavirus infection test. We collect the swab and send it to the laboratory. It is not necessary that all testing positive for the infection needs to stay at the health facility," he said.

Dr Suda said that they have been treating patients with serious symptoms and medical issues, keeping them in isolation.

A single infected person is found to have transmitted the infection to as many as 27 people here as the second wave of COVID-19 swept the area.

Health workers fear that the coronavirus infection might go out of grip as the locals seem to be negligent and they are going about their business as usual. They are working in the farm and moving around without following health protocols.

"There are many people in the village who say that they are suffering from cough and cold, breathing difficulty, chest pain and fever. Some have recovered but others are still sick. The fear of the community is more than that of the disease itself in our area these days," said a COVID-19 infected person, who is undergoing treatment at the Sirthauli Hospital.

According to him, people are also not willingly coming for tests as the Dudhauli municipality has been putting up stickers at the house of the infected person and people take it as a matter of shame.

Meanwhile, there is also the tendency of people suffering from fever, headache, body ache and cough and cold taking harmful medicine for typhoid, without undergoing any health examination.