Learn to live with Covid-19, stop stigmatization of those infected – NCDC
Until a vaccine is found for the ravaging Coronavirus Nigerians may be left with no choice but to learn to live with it.
Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director-General of the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), who was reacting to the issue of stigmatization of Coronavirus patients at the Friday briefing of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, described the development as unfortunate.
A staff of DAAR Communications had complained about the stigmatization of Dr Raymond Dokpesi, members of his family and staff who had tested positive to Coronavirus
“Imagine what will be happening in the other parts of the country if this is really happening in Abuja, in homes or communities where individuals have been affected”, the Director General wondered.
“We are in the beginning of a journey and the most likely scenario is that until we have a vaccine, we will have to learn to live with COVID-19 in our country.
“So if we start stigmatizing one another, I don’t know when it will stop because the same people that are stigmatising one group will end up being infected tomorrow. “
He advised against stigmatization of patients saying that what was needed was a joint effort to defeat the virus
