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Let’s stop stigmatisation of COVID-19 victims
Ghanaians have been cautioned against stigmatising victims and families affected by the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), as such attitude would inhibit efforts to prevent the spread of the disease, but it seems the advice has fallen on deaf ears.
Despite the numerous sensitisation, people continue to stigmatise and shun victims of the disease who had been declared negative through series of tests and also continue to label those who have returned from abroad as contracting the disease.
Such victims go through psychological trauma as those in the community, instead of showing love to them, rather refuse to get close for fear that they might contract the disease.
The Spectator is concerned about the attitude of some residents in the Kwaiebibirim Constituency in the Eastern Region, who called on the chiefs and the Ghana Health Service (GHS) to evacuate a man from the community whom they suspected of contracting the COVID-19.
According to the residents, the man had returned from one of the countries that have been hard hit by the virus, so they would not stay with him in the same area.
The fact is, those who returned from abroad were quarantined for two weeks and they underwent series of tests to establish their status, whether positive or negative. It implies that this man might have tested negative or had recovered if he initially tested positive.
The fear is that if people are stigmatised, it would prevent those with symptoms of the virus from visiting the hospital for testing, and that means more people would be infected in case that person had contracted the virus but does not know his or her status.
It will pose more danger to the communities as the virus will keep spreading. Currently, the country has 5,408 cases with 514 recoveries and 24 deaths, but those who have died were said to have underlining health issues.
The earlier this issue of stigmatisation is addressed the better it would be for everybody because we are all at risk, no matter one’s status, whether rich or poor.
In fact, we all need to be knowledgeable and abreast of how the disease is contracted and what to do to prevent it, instead of allowing ourselves to be bombarded with rumours which will eventually cause emotional pain and make life unbearable for others.
The Spectator supports the advice of the Member of Parliament (MP) for Abuakwa North Constituency, Mrs Gifty Twum Ampofo, and urge the public “to stop the stigmatisation of coronavirus patients and rather show love and care towards them to motivate others to quickly visit the hospital or go to the testing centres if they have acquired the virus”.
Indeed, the public needs more education on the coronavirus pandemic to take informed decisions in the best interest of all.
The Spectator is of the view that one major issue to stop the stigmatisation is to keep the privacy of those who may be part of the contact tracing and also those seeking health care.
Hopefully, a lot of people have recovered and Ghanaians have been informed by health experts that although there is no vaccine, the virus does not kill instantly.
The Ministry of Information (MoI) and the GHS should constantly sensitise people more in the local dialect to ensure that the citizenry are well-informed on the disease and what it means to declare a person as recovered.
Let us stop the stigmatisation against COVID-19 victims and rather show love to them to build their self-esteem and to prevent the spread of the disease.
Above all, let us adhere to the health protocols by washing our hands regularly with soap under running water, using hand sanitisers and wearing face masks among others.
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Ghana to host African Catholic Journalists from August 10
The Union Catholique Africaine de la Presse (UCAP), also known as the African Catholic Union of the Press, in collaboration with the Catholic Association of Media Practitioners-Ghana (CAMP-G), is set to host its prestigious Triennial Congress from August 10 to 17 August, 2025.
The programme would be held at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), Legon, Accra, Ghana.
This landmark event, the most significant gathering of Catholic journalists in Africa, will bring together media professionals, researchers, and experts in digital technology from across the continent and beyond.
The theme for the Congress is: “Balancing Technological Progress and the Preservation of Human Values in the Age of Artificial Intelligence.”
Congress Highlights
The UCAP Congress 2025 will feature discussions and deliberations on critical issues arising from or related to integral human development, particularly within the framework of Artificial Intelligence (AI).
Some of the key sub-themes to be addressed include:Corporate Social Responsibility in Managing the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Human Values, Deploying AI in Eco-friendly Business Start-ups in Africa: Opportunities and Challenges, Technology and the Reprogramming of Social Reality, Distortion of Reality in Social and Digital Media, Ecological Education and Action Against Unsustainable Exploitation of Natural Resources, and Media and the Promotion of the Recommendations of the Synod on Synodality in Africa.
Participants will include media professionals from both ecclesiastical and lay organisations, media researchers and academics, representatives from the Vatican, government agencies, NGOs, civil society, and the digital technology sector.
Objectives of the Congress
The primary goal of this Congress is to strengthen the capacities of media professionals and educate the public on the necessity of preserving human values amid rapid technological progress. Specific objectives include; Training 100 media practitioners in Artificial Intelligence and emerging technologies, with a focus on balancing innovation and human values.
This will include promoting ethics and bioethics in technical research and technological innovations through media.
Advocating for human values such as respect for life, human dignity, charity, solidarity, and human rights and assessing the impact of technological progress to better understand the challenges, risks, and opportunities presented by AI will be part of the objectives.
UCAP is a continental organisation dedicated to promoting communication within the Catholic Church and its partners in Africa. With a mission to foster spiritual growth, collaboration, and responsible journalism, UCAP works to spread the Gospel, uphold human values, and support developmental initiatives across Africa and beyond.
UCAP is an independent, autonomous, non-political, and non-profit organisation comprising African Catholic journalists, communicators, academics, researchers, and institutions in various media fields.
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Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation –Pres.Mahama
President John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the misuse of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) for personal financial gain by individuals in leadership positions.
Speaking during a meeting with Chief Executives of specified entities under the State Interest and Governance Authority (SIGA) on Thursday, March 13, the President directly attributed the dire state of SOEs to their leadership, accusing chief executives, management teams, and governing boards of prioritising personal enrichment over organisational efficiency.
He pointed to bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures as factors draining public funds while SOEs continue to rely on government bailouts.
“Many SOEs have been used as mere instruments for personal wealth accumulation by appointees. The chief executives, management, and boards of these enterprises are responsible for this situation. Some SOEs have become perennial loss-makers, draining public funds with bloated budgets, unjustified allowances, and unnecessary expenditures while relying on government bailouts as if entitled to them. Many of these entities are at their lowest point in the entire history of the Fourth Republic,” he said.
President Mahama further noted that many SOEs have been plagued by inefficiencies, corruption, and mismanagement, leading to consistent financial losses. He cited the 2023 State Ownership Report by the State Interests and Governance Authority (SIGA), which highlighted systemic inefficiencies and wasteful expenditures within these entities.
He therefore reaffirmed his commitment to reforming under-performing SOEs and ensuring they serve national interests.
He warned that loss-making SOEs will no longer be tolerated and will either be merged, privatised, or closed.
“I will assess you based on your performance. If you do not align with the pace of the reset agenda, you may be asked to step aside. If that adds to the horror movie, so be it,” he added.
Source: Myjoyonline.com
