Preparations has reached advanced stage in Rivers State towards the provision of a special application to enable individuals seek medical attention and get same without the knowledge of friends and family members as a means of checking stigmatization over infection with COVID-19.
The State Coordinator, Risk Communication and Community Engagement (RCCE) Mordecai Olowole, made this known at the weekend during a live radio programme in Port Harcourt.
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Olowole, who was responding to a question on what the RCCE Team is doing about checking growing stigmatization of people suspected to be infected with the coronavirus, stayed that the State Government, through the Primary Healthcare Board, in collaboration with the UNICEF has gotten to the stage of providing the application to enhance the fight against stigmatization.
In Rivers State, we’re coming up with an innovation. By the time we fully roll it out, it’s going to be the first of it’s kind, possibly in the whole world”, he said.
He explained that the application is such that it will enable people who suspect that they have been infected with the virus to make it known to relevant health personnel, and promptly get the required medical attention without the knowledge of close persons.
“The report goes straight to the right health personnel, who will engage you one-on-one, and you can get your own service even at your doorpost.
“By the time we finally roll out this, it’s going to go a long way to prevent stigmatization”, he said.
Earlier, the State Deputy Coordinator, RCCE Pillar, and UNICEF Desk Officer, Amb. Tonjo Harry, who was a co-guest at the programme, had explained that deliberate checking stigmatization is always embedded in messages during sensitisation meetings with stakeholders.
