–use your sanitisers, facemasks and commonsense to keep COVID-19 at bay, urges psychologist

COVID-19 restrictions on peoples’ movement and socialising has caused the “triggering” of some amount of negative mood and behavioral challenges that have resulted in inappropriate and dysfunctional behaviours, especially on person’s mental health.
This is according to Past President of the Guyana Psychological Association, Balogun Osunbiyi, who once served as its mental and behavioural health adviser.

The psychologist explained that issues, or even newly-emerging ones are because of the uncertainty, fear and anxiety caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has produced tremendous negative reactions.

“It should be noted that the Ministry of Health has established, and is providing psychological support services for all COVID-19-related matters, with toll-free hotline operators, social workers, mental health counsellors and psychologists providing much-needed care and support to those in need,” Mr. Osunbiyi said.
Some of the toll-free public health hotline numbers are: 624-2819, 624-6674, 624-3067 and 624-9355.
He noted that many persons have complained, and rightfully so, of feeling bored, frustrated, lonely and depressed because of the ‘lockdown’, and the fact that they cannot leave their homes to socialise as they are accustomed doing.

“But to be lonely, bored, or to be sick and possibly dead is the choice that we all face with COVID-19. Hopefully, persons will understand that no one has the right to infect and possibly kill another person, simply because you choose, by your risk-taking and irresponsible behaviours, to expose yourself to possible COVID-19 infection,” the psychologist said.

STOP, LISTEN
He continued: “Stop, listen, learn; do not endanger your own health and safety, and the health and safety of your own family members! Have a care for your fellow citizens; your front-line healthcare providers and their family members, and for our beautiful country Guyana!”
Data on Guyana, as of Wednesday, August 19, 2020, indicate that there were 40 new COVID-19-positive cases, and four deaths within a one-day period.
This, the psychologist noted, speaks in loud and clear decibels to those who have ears to hear, and the ability to comprehend the danger of the spread of the disease, if they do not take measures to keep COVID-19 at bay.

The psychologist noted that many persons got infected with the coronavirus, and did not know because they are asymptomatic, but are spreading the disease to other persons they physically come into contact with.

“I am aware also of a few instances where persons felt sick, manifesting COVID-19 symptoms; went to work, keep quiet about their deteriorating condition for days, thereby exposing their workmates and other persons that they came into close contact with to the risk of not only becoming infected themselves, but unknowingly spreading the coronavirus to others,” Osunbiyi explained.

He said he personally has heard first-hand and indirect reports of several persons getting sick and having many of the symptoms of the coronavirus, and are treating themselves at home with homemade herbal medicines and other forms of self-treatments, including self-medicating.
“Take all of the foregoing into account, and you will get a truer picture of the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic, and how it is continuing to spread in Guyana and other countries around the world,” he said.

This is a time for everyone to keep their physical distance, the psychologist said, or face the negative consequences of their actions.

NOT GOOD
“Many persons I have observed are still ignoring and violating the publicly-announced guidelines on sanitisation and proper hygiene to help citizens avoid infection,” Osunbiyi said.

Additionally, he emphasised that the many publicly-reported cases and incidences of Brazilians and Venezuelans illegally crossing into Guyana from the southern and south-western borders are a major cause of concern, since these two countries have a significant number of COVID-19 cases.
In an interview with the Department of Public Information, the Ministry of Health Mental Health Unit Director, Dr. Util Richmond-Thomas said while everyone has been affected psychologically by the pandemic, to effectively win the battle against COVID-19, one must maintain a state of mental health, which is sufficient to allow them the resilience to successfully come through to the end of this pandemic.

In this regard, she made recommendations, in keeping with those of the World Health Organisation (WHO) that will help alleviate the stress and worry that comes with the presence of COVID-19.

The WHO has outlined specific recommendations for the general public, the elderly, those with disabilities, healthcare workers and children.
Among them is that persons should ensure they have someone to talk to about their feelings and their thoughts. That someone can be a family member, friend, healthcare provider, mental health specialist, or a religious leader.

“The psychological relief gained by doing so will be tremendous,” Dr. Richmond-Thomas said, adding:
“It is also important to connect daily with those persons who are ‘in your corner’; those who support you, empower you, and make you feel good about yourself.”

SOCIAL NETWORK
Added to this, persons should maintain their social network, while maintaining social and physical distancing. Technology has proven to be a major ‘make-up’, providing thousands to connect through various social media platforms and virtual communication.
Persons are also encouraged to keep themselves occupied by rediscovering hobbies, and doing things they love, as well as minimising psychological trauma by limiting the amount of COVID-19 news they are exposed to.

“Do not overload with the bad news. Each exposure to bad news inflicts psychological trauma, and several episodes of trauma per day add up, and will be harmful,” Dr. Richmond-Thomas said.

President Irfaan Ali has recently announced that his government is taking a number of measures to tackle the pandemic, among them the sourcing of some US$60M to assist in its efforts.

The head of state said the pandemic has led to starvation, and as such a holistic plan is needed that does not just look at the health aspect of the pandemic, but also measures that will create jobs and improve spending in the economy.

Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony said plans are underway to automate Guyana’s testing for COVID-19, which will significantly boost its capacity in this regard.
Dr. Anthony informed that the National Public Health Reference Laboratory currently has one Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) machine, which is not an automatic machine, and therefore takes a much longer time to process samples that are being submitted.
“What we are trying to do now is to automate that process,” Dr Anthony said, while explaining that there are different types of PCR machines that would speed up the testing time. The Health Ministry, he said, is currently in the process of procuring automatic PCR machines. Those machines are being used at various international airports, and can process some 96 tests within an hour.

Meanwhile, Guyana’s COVID-19 Task Force continues to push forward with its robust agenda as it monitors the country’s response measures to the novel coronavirus.

Prime Minister Mark Phillips, who serves as chairperson of the Task Force, recently met with its members for a weekly progress report, and to discuss further plans to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in Guyana.

The current emphasis of the task force is to look at continued restricted access to and from Brazil and a review of the current operations at checkpoints in bordering regions and a focus on facilitating increased medical response in Regions One, Seven and Nine.

In the area of economic and social response, focus is being placed on the provision of hampers and sanitation supplies to vulnerable areas.