The Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA), spearheaded by its Chief Executive, has taken the fight against the Coronavirus (COVID-19) to another level.
The Assembly has embarked on an anti-COVID-19 stigmatisation campaign code named ‘Don’t Stigmatise, but Empathise’ against the coronavirus pandemic.
The idea for the anti-COVID-19 campaign was mooted by Dr. Ernest Kwarko, a member of the Public Health Emergency Committee of the KMA, who passionately espoused the negative effects of stigma in our collective fight against the disease.
Osei Assibey Antwi, Mayor of Kumasi, believing that the subject of stigmatisation is a negative phenomenon in every pandemic era, bought into the idea decided to lead the drive, and take it to another level of advocacy.
He has procured branded T-shirts embossed with the inscription “Don’t Stigmatise but Empathise” for the yet-to-be-inaugurated campaign, which are being worn by senior management members of the Assembly, including his (Mayor) good self, since Wednesday, May 20, 2020.
According to the Mayor, social stigma in the context of health is negative, and that such treatment can negatively affect those with the disease, as well as their caregivers, family, friends and communities.
Osei Assibey Antwi said not that the current COVID-19 outbreak had provoked social stigmatisation against people known to have contracted the disease, and urged members of the public to campaign against such discriminatory behaviours.
The Mayor urged the public to adhere to all directives by the President and health officials, and advised residents to stay healthy by wearing the nose masks at all times, besides regular hand washing to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
The KMA boss reiterated that the wearing of nose and face masks was compulsory for all members of the public, and that people who defied the directive would face sanctions.
The post KMA embarks on anti-COVID-19 stigmatisation campaign appeared first on The Chronicle Online.
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