Ex-patient: Social stigma more painful than Covid-19

 

The sense of relief felt by Nur'rul Fatin Najwa Taarin, a Covid-19 patient who was discharged from the Sungai Buloh Hospital, appeared to be short-lived.

This was because the 25-year-old still tested positive when she left the hospital - she was discharged because it was determined that the chances for her to infect others were low.

Despite this, Nur'rul found herself subjected to social stigma in which her colleagues refrained from meeting her in person.

"My colleagues, who took off their masks, immediately put them on again when they saw me and some even left when seeing me enter (the office). They look at me with fear on their face," she said.

"I now dine by myself. Nobody wants to be with me," she told Malaysiakini, adding that her close friends came up with excuses not to meet her.

Nur'rul said she feels slighted that her friends would do this to her. Now, she only goes out with people who "dare" to see her.

She admitted that what happened to her at the office and how her friends reacted have affected her self-confidence and well-being.

"(I am) scared of going out because I am worried about the way others look at me. I start questioning if the virus in my body can infect others.

"The social stigma is more painful than being infected with Covid-19 itself," she lamented.

Nur'rul was infected by a colleague and tested positive on Dec 19, 2020. She underwent self-quarantine at home before being hospitalised for treatment. 

She was warded at the hospital for five days before she was discharged and was allowed to go on with her daily activities even though she was still Covid-19 positive.

In May 2020, Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said the ministry's new policy allowed patients to be discharged even when their second Covid-19 test came back positive.

He said as the patients no longer have Covid-19 symptoms, they could not spread the virus to others.

Better explanation needed

Recalling her time quarantining at home, Nur'rul said she stayed inside her bedroom and did not venture out, even to the living room.

"My mother sent me food packed in a disposable container for fear that my family members would be infected.

"I used a separate toilet and washed my own clothes," she said, adding she had no other symptoms apart from fever and fatigue.

Nur'rul hoped the Health Ministry would provide a detailed and easy-to-understand explanation of the pandemic for patients and the community.

"Right now, the explanation given by the ministry is very confusing; I don't quite understand myself. 

"I know they sacrifice a lot for us. I hope they can update the information on Covid-19 and provide a list of 'frequently asked questions' to create awareness for the public.

"An example would be to explain how we can undergo home quarantine and why patients who test positive for Covid-19 can be discharged. 

"Make the public aware that patients who are still positive with Covid-19 won't be able to infect others," she added.  - Mkini