A Social Psychologist at the Department of Sociology at the University of Ghana Dr. Peace Mamle Tetteh has appealed to the media to be circumspect in their reportage on COVID-19 patients.
According to her, the kind of words the media chooses to use during their reports impacts on the stigmatisation or otherwise of the patients.
The concerns come in the wake rising call for stigmatization to be put in check as the country continues to battle the virus.
Speaking to Starr News, the lecturer said there is the need to challenge the myth around the virus.
“It is not a death sentence and. Let’s challenge the myth. This is where the media comes in. Avoid labelling, avoid negative reporting, avoid using stigmatizing description. Let’s provide education to the families of affected persons. When people recover and come back accept them because they need that confidence from society,” she noted.
Meanwhile, the Technical lead on Health and Aviation at the Bureau of Public Safety Dr Akaribo Yakubu says lockdown is the most effective way of curbing the spread of the deadly COVID-19.
According to him, the measure is deemed most effective because there is proven record of its efficiency in China and other places since the pandemic took over the world.
“Lockdown is the ideal measure to stop infections and that has proven to work. If we are able to stop the movement of people that is the best way to stop the spread,” Dr Yakubu told Francis Abban on the Morning Starr Wednesday.
It comes as Ghana’s COVID-19 cases continue to rise. Currently, the case count stands at 1,671 from 1,550.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM
