18 Jun 2020

Members of the public have been urged to continue exercising restraint and refrain from stigmatising those who have either recovered from COVID-19 or released from quarantine.

The admonition was issued by  greater Francistown District Health Management Team (DHMT) coordinator, Ms Bayengemali Monyere in an interview with BOPA on June 17.

Ms Monyere however that the area had not registered any case of social stigmatisation of people who had been quarantined or from the front liners.

“We have had different people from various communities quarantined and released but we have not received any complaint from them of being discriminated by the public,” she said.

She further said DHMT was working in partnership with social workers in each quarantine center to administer counselling to the quarantined and to also advise them to seek help if they were to encounter such discriminatory behavior.

Ms Monyere said stigmatisation was often fueled by lack of knowledge surrounding COVID-19, hence the team had embarked on  a robust  public education campaign in greater Francistown.

She said that there was no need for the public to discriminate against people who had been released from quarantine explaining that their release was an indication that they did not have the virus.

Even those who had tested positive for the virus did not deserve to be discriminated against, said Ms Monyere.

The coordinator stressed the need for the public to support those affected by the pandemic as well as frontline workers.

It was important, she said, for the nation to soldier on together to overcome COVID-19.

Greater Francistown DHMT assistant director, Ms Mavilyn Benn said the area was doing well in terms of complying with the COVID-19 protocols.

She said a total of eight DHMT teams were on the ground conducting public education on the virus.

The teams, she said, were covering Francistown, Matsiloje, Matopi and Matshelagabedi while others were in Tonota, Serule, Mabesekwa and Mathangwane.

“People in greater Francistown are aware of how the virus spreads and how they should take care of themselves and others in controlling the spread,” she added.

However, Ms Benn said there were still some uncooperative elements.

“During our inspections as DHMT, we have observed that some shops tend to use fake sanitizers and change to use approved products when they know we are coming. This is not right,” she said.

Ms Benn also advised entities to use two or more infrared-thermometers and regularly check batteries for effective recording of temperatures. ENDS