Header Ads

Header ADS

A Narrative on Mass Consciousness about COVID-19 in Bangladesh

A Narrative on Mass Consciousness about COVID-19 in Bangladesh

By: Rawnaq Ara parvin, Varendra University, Bangladesh

The WHO has advised to enforce lock down in Bangladesh, because it is a public health emergency worldwide. COVID-19 pandemic has brought serious social and psychological affects throughout the world, particularly has affected those in quarantine centers or in home quarantine systems. Bangladesh is no exception in this issue. People in Bangladesh lack serious problems of unconsciousness and unawareness about the pandemic. Doctors have been facing difficulty in dealing with it and even warned that they would abstain themselves from service due to lack of support. Doctors need full support with safety equipments and with psychological support because they are the real fighters. It is observed that people are inconsiderately wearing used-mask by washing. It is a matter of concern that needs to be addressed. The people have to be responsible in their acts because Government and administration alone cannot deal with the situation. A migrant labour confronted a female magistrate just because he was instructed to be quarantined. Magistrate is doing duty to make society corona free but people are showing irresponsible behavior.

It is the need of the time to provide mentoring and counselling for developing consciousness regarding quarantine. Internet based framework for psychological support is popular in many countries. Conscious people of Bangladesh can make the masses aware and conscious through Facebook live stream, Instagram and YouTube.

Dr. Jun Zhang and others have emphasized on psychological crisis intervention that should have two simultaneous activities:

i)                    Intervention for fear of disease (COVID-19) can be carried out mainly by physicians and assisted by psychologists.

ii)                  Intervention for difficulty in adaptation can be carried out mainly by social psychologists. Among them serious mental problems (violence, suicide-natal tendencies) must be managed by psychiatrists.

Interaction of the Government and social agencies in the media can maximize effective management of the awareness building and psychological crisis.  Popular folk music__ "Baul Sanget" can be used to raise awareness among rural masses in Radio and TV. Awareness can also be made in Radio through other mediums, because rural masses are very familiar to listen it and in TV through advertisement of public health. Awareness should not create crowd rather social distancing has to be maintained. Campaign for awareness about the necessity of hand wash is needed. Online campaign by doctors and health experts may take the initiative. Advertisements through You-Tube can be the most effective. There must be proper framework or model of campaign of awareness under the leadership of Doctors, Psychologists, Public health researchers and Social workers.  

It has been observed that Priyanka Chopra, Bollywood actor is making awareness on her Instagram platform. So celebrities in Bangladesh can do the same in Bengali because they have mass followers. Mobile phone companies are playing vital role by setting awareness raising caller tune worldwide. There are some possible contents of campaign that can be carried out by media and online platforms. Online and media service can contain the following contents:

i)        Knowledge about prevention and actions of the Novel Corona virus.

ii)      Wearing mask in proper way.

iii)    How to protect yourself when you have to go out?

iv)    How to deal with information explosion related to virus and pandemic?

v)      Knowledge about self psychological adjustment skills.

vi)    How to face anxiety and fear resulted by it?

Reference

Zhang Jun , Weili WuXin Zhao, and Wei Zhang (2020) Recommended psychological crisis intervention response to the 2019 novel coronavirus pneumonia outbreak in China: a model of West China Hospital.  Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7107095/ (accessed 21 July 2020).

..…..X……

Author of this article is Rawnaq Ara Parvin, Lecturer, Department of Sociology, Varendra University, Rajshahi, Bangladesh.

For communication write to Rawnaq Ara Parvin < rawnaqara@gmail.com>


No comments

Powered by Blogger.