VIJAYAWADA: Neighbours are turning into good Samaritans for those who are down with Covid-19.
Discrimination towards Covid-19 patients has come down significantly and people are now coming forward to help the patients who are in home isolation.
Covid-19 cases have increased significantly in the last ten days. Positivity rate crossed the 22 per cent-mark on Monday and almost every colony and apartment complex in the city houses Covid-19 patients. People who initially discriminated against Covid-19-hit families and denied them help are slowly changing their mind and coming forward to extend help. Many apartment complexes and residential colonies have formed action forces to support the families which are in home isolation.
Housing societies have formed groups on messaging apps and are asking the patients to post what they want to get from the market. Available people will respond and deliver it to the needy.
“There are around eight families with Covid-19 positive people in our apartment complex. Initially, we were afraid of reaching out to those who have tested positive for Covid-19. But our attitude changed after the second wave of Covid-19. We are not letting the families step out of their homes and are delivering medicines, fruits, and groceries at their doorstep,” said Daram Naveen Kumar who lives in an apartment at Gurunanak Colony.
“Women in our apartments are voluntarily preparing food and delivering it to the Covid-19 positive families. This helps in speedy recovery,” he added. Meanwhile, the situation is same in urban slums in Vijayawada. Youth in colonies are forming groups and delivering essentials to the Covid-19-hit families.
Psychiatrists say support from neighbours will help in speedy recovery of Covid-19 patients. “Stigma caused psychological issues in people affected by Covid-19 in the first two waves. Many patients concealed the fact that they were tested positive due to fear of discrimination. But the situation is slowly improving and people have started treating Covid-19 patients normally,” said Dr. K Narendra, a psychiatrist in the city.
