The Deputy Minister designate for Health, Bernard Okoe-Boye, has emphasised the need for people who have recovered from Covid-19, to assist in educating the public against stigma.

Dr Okoe-Boye said while some education is currently ongoing, hearing from people who have survived the infection would contribute a great deal to government’s efforts.

“There is a tool which is very potent in dealing with stigma, because people don’t know what Covid-19 is like so once they hear it, they would want to stay away from it.”

The spread of Covid-19 - the disease caused by the coronavirus - across the globe, is fueling discrimination and stigma.

Africans in the Chinese town of Guangzhou are battling stigma and discrimination over the pandemic, linked to a cluster of cases in a Nigerian community there.

The African residents have suffered forced evictions, arbitrary quarantines and mass coronavirus tests.

In Ghana, no Covid-19 stigma cases have been reported but health officials have already encouraged citizens not to stigmatise or discriminate against persons with the disease.

Dr Okoe-Boye praised renowned television broadcaster, Gifty Anti, for being outspoken about her experience in quarantine although she did not contract the disease.

He said people who did and have recovered should emulate her example as their words are essential in dealing with stigma.

“We have to find ways to have some of our recovered people to start having one-on-one-discussions [as well as] doing TV interviews

“Until we get those people, everything we say is imaginary. They want to see in real physical terms a Covid-patient who has recovered. And if we speak to those who were positive, they should help and once that happens, stigma will start going away,” he added.