Yes. Very true Sent from my iPhone
> On 28-Jun-2021, at 9:09 PM, Nelson Lopes <lopesnelson...@gmail.com> wrote: > > In the past leprosy was considered as curse.It was presumed to be > hereditary, punishment for sins.Even though it is caused by germs > ,curable leprosy patients are still segrated, unemployed and have to > fend for themselves. Baba Ampte and his family worked all his life to > ameliorate their lives. The stigma was so strong, they were abandoned to > die in the wilderness, had to wear special clothes ,walk on designated > paths and shout ringing the bells about their scourge as warning to others > Christ touched them and cured > Now are we seeing of repeat of this phenomenon with those afflicted with > covid,recovered ,doctors nurses reverentially labelled as the angels > People are loath to accept death due to covid or even openly admit death > as consequence. While in leprosy progression was slow with deformation of > parts of body and known to be contagious > COVID19 is both contagious and infectious a due to mutating virus and hence > people out of fear avoid such patients. Covid infected people recover > and it is neither a punishment or curse.Even visits to covid infected > persons and attendance at funeral rites, condolence visits are very > restricted by so called SOP.Every death is suspiciously looked upon as > covid case and is uttered in hush tones > While precautions are natural and normal > stigmatising them is most unwarranted.Similarly stigma is attached to > hijaras, unfortunately the greatest numbers are in India .All such > persons need to be treated with respect, dignity and as humans > Nelson Lopes > Chinchinim