KMA LAUNCHES ANTI-STIGMA CAMPAIGN ON COVID-19

The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) has launched an Anti-Stigma Campaign on the novel Corona Virus recently atthe Rattray Park in Kumasi.

The well-organized event which was held under the theme “Partnership for Healthy Cities, COVID-19 Response Initiative” aimed at helping cities navigate ‘the new normal’ was supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and Vital Strategies; the project partners of the KMA.

Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi, the Metropolitan Chief Executive of Kumasi in his welcome address expressed his appreciation to the project partners who made the launch a reality.

According to him, there have been several measures put in place to curb the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the Kumasi Metropolis through laboratory investigations, contact tracing,surveillance, public education, infection control practices and a host of others.

He, however, added that fear,discrimination and stigmatization has reared its ugly head in the fight againstthe pandemic.

Hon. Osei Assibey Antwi explained that survivors of the virus had come face to face with the unfortunatechallenge of being stigmatized by members of their communities to the extent that they and their families were treated like outcasts.

The MCE noted that the Anti-Stigma Campaign was a deliberate programme to sensitize the general public against stigmatizing survivors of the Corona Virus.

Dr. Ruth Owusu Antwi, head of Psychiatric Unit of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, who was the guest speaker for the function advised the public against fear and stigmatizing people who had recovered from the attack of the deadly virus.

According to her, stigma was a complex social phenomenon based on relationship between an attribute and a stereotype that assigned undesirable labels, qualities and behaviors to a person with that attribute.

She explained that labelled individuals were then socially devalued which led to inequality and discrimination.

Dr. Owusu Antwi said the Anti-Stigma campaign was the first of its kind at the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assembly level that aimed at contributing to national efforts to understand and change attitudes, beliefs and behaviors towards persons who were diagnosed with COVID-19 and their families that led to stigma and discrimination.

She subsequently entreated the media professionals to beware of the appropriate language to use to describe COVID-19 related issues in the news.

She commended the KMA for the great initiative and encouraged other Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to emulate the sterling example so that together, the war against COVID-19 stigma would be won.

Ashanti Regional Minister, Hon.Simon Osei Mensah, who spoke as guest of honor, stressed the need for all and sundry to see each as other’s keeper and refrain from stigmatizing Covid-19 patients who had fully recovered.

He commended the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II for his contribution during and after the partial lockdown in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hon. Osei Mensah advised the general public to tackle the pandemic seriously since the death rate in the Ashanti region was higher than any other region.

Baffour Osei Hyiaman VI,Manwerehene and also a medical practitioner, who represented the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II as chairman for the function, advised against shunning and stigmatizing people who have recovered from covid-19.

There were presentations by Dr.Oheneba Danso, Chief Executive Officer of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and Dr. Akosua Gyimah Omari-Sasu, Metro Director of Health.