SILCHAR, July 8 - Amidst the constant rise of COVID-19 positive cases, the Cachar district administration has taken a empathising initiative to destigmatise and allay fears, panic and anxiety among those kept in the quarantine centres and families of the discharged persons as well.
Deputy Commissioner Keerthi Jalli reached out to the quarantine centres at Maharishi Vidya Mandir and Sarla Birla Gyan Jyoti School on Tuesday with Aastha, an initiative for psychological assistance. ADC Sumit Sattawan, Joint Director of Health Services Dr Sudip Jyoti Das, Dr Prasenjit Ghosh and other officials of District Health Society, functionaries of National Mental Health Programme and doctors from Department of Psychiatry Silchar Medical College and Hospital also joined the efforts.
�Fear and anxiety about the disease can lead the affected persons and also their families to be biased and hurtful towards their fellow citizens, places, or things. We have heard several examples of such outbursts since the pandemic started spreading tentacles across the country. Along with social distancing and frequent handwashing, destigamtising is a key factor to win the battle against COVID-19. Let us talk about our feelings and this is one step to destigmatise the doubts and questions creeping in,� Jalli said.
Suman Choudhury, the District Media Expert NHM informed that as many as 10 such persons were approached and Deputy Commissioner along with medical experts interacted with them to start off the proceedings of Aastha drive. At the facility level, everyday, a team of doctors will visit the quarantine centres as a part of the plan prepared by the National Mental Health Programme officials for counselling. Also at the community level, the MPW, AASHA workers will visit the houses of the discharged persons as per supervision of the Sectorial Medical officers and reports on daily basis shall be collected by concerned officials from the quarantine centres and households for further course of action, the DME maintained.
