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 Wu, Xin 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