The world, its businesses and travels have come to a standstill, all due to the outbreak of Corona Virus Covid-19.
While powerful countries like America, Italy, Spain, U.K among others are doing all it takes to minimize the death tolls, less developed countries like Ghana is also doing its bit in safeguarding citizens.
One important aspect of the fight against Corona Virus is the education that is being sent across to citizens.
Since the first case was recorded in March, government through the ministries and agencies have been doing their best to educate Ghanaians on the novel Covid-19.
Contained in the education being put out there is mainly the prevention of the Corona Virus, thereby asking citizens to wash their hands regularly.
While advertisements are running on some media channels, the Minister of Health and other health experts of the government are also educating and sending out information about Corona Virus on many platforms that they find themselves.
However, one aspect of the education that is given less or no attention is that of reducing fear and panic.
Even though I have been thinking about the missing but critical messaging plan in the entire Corona Virus education, I got alarmed after listening to a report on the first Covid-19 case in Cape Coast.
According to the reporter who was reporting on the incident, the case has led many natives of Cape Coast living in extreme fear and panic.
He added that the situation at Cape Coast has led to some natives fleeing the area amid near chaos and hullabaloo
The fear and panic among the people of Cape Coast can cause extra problems and spread of the virus than they may be thinking.
I will not want to go into the ripple effects of the fear and panic at Cape Coast but I will want to capitalize on that to point out at the mishaps in the Corona Virus education which gave less or no attention to anti-fear and panic messaging.
Even though Corona Virus is described as deadly, it is not very deadly as many citizens are portraying it.
The phenomenon of deeming Covid-19 highly deadly alone which resulted from misinformation of citizens should have been addressed in the Corona Virus education and advertisement.
Short and powerful advertising message like what is done with hand-washing and social distancing should have been implemented.
The message should have been used to reduce the fear and panic in Ghanaians, alerting them that it is not automatic that those who get the virus dies.
Secondly, recovery rates in other countries plus positive news about the Corona Virus medication should have been relayed to Ghanaians so they know that there is hope.
As it stands now, many citizens have never heard any Corona Virus survivor talking or being interviewed, thus they think everyone who gets infected dies.
The Tema-based patient who spoke to Citi TV on his recovery process should have been engaged by government or the Ministry to talk and assure Ghanaians.
With a patient talking about his experiences which are not different from a normal healthy person, citizens will have less fear, knowing that the disease is not as deadly as they might think.
I have personally had conversations with people who lamented about never seeing someone who recovered from Corona Virus.
These and other anti-fear and panic messages can be employed, thus should be used by government, the Ministry of Health and others going forward when it comes to Corona Virus education and advertising.
Furthermore, I think that anti-fear and panic education and messaging will curb the situation of patients running away.
The same education can be done when a patient is being tested and picked up for isolation. Officials must talk to them so they can relax their nerves, not feeling they will die.
The fear and panic is likely the main reason why some patients have absconded when they need to receive treatment instead.
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