Stamp out stigma in kenya by vijay narayanan

Stamp out stigma in kenya by vijay narayanan

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  Dr. Vijay Narayanan MBBS MD MA MPhil PG Dip Pall .care Clinical Director, Cancer Care Kenya
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  What is Stigma? “A mark of disgrace associated with a particular circumstance, quality, or person“. (Oxford dictionary)
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  Who is astigmatized person?  A stigmatized person is a person whose social identity, or membership in some social category calls into question his or her full humanity-the person is devalued, spoiled or flawed in the eyes of others .Crocker, Major and Steele (1998)  Stigma will lead to ‘Negative evaluation’  Negative evaluations may be “felt” or“ enacted”.  A felt negative evaluation is internalised and may lead to shame or guilt associated with having a condition and to the fear of being discriminated against on the grounds of social unacceptability because of that condition.  An enacted negative evaluation refers to actual discrimination.
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  Types of stigma An abomination of body Blemishes of individual moral character Tribal stigma
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  Elements of stigma  The problem of Knowledge – ignorance  The problem of Attitudes – prejudice  The problem of Behaviour - discrimination
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  Consequence of stigma Stigma / fear of being stigmatised can result in people with cancer not getting help and having reduced self-esteem or confidence. They can become socially isolated and excluded from society – none of which helps them cope with their illness or recover.
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  Cancer and Stigma  The word ‘cancer’ was once considered unacceptable in the public sphere, and even today, euphemisms such as ‘the Big C’ are common.  Polls in the US and Europe find that at least half the population say they fear cancer more than any other disease.  Around a third to a fifth say they fear cancer more than other potential catastrophes, such as violent crime, debt, and losing a job
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  What others do: OCTOBREAST PINK RIBBON  Breast cancer awareness month- BCAM  BCAM- is an annual international health campaign  BCAM-organized by major breast cancer charities every October  BCAM- helps to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.
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  What others do: Movember movement www.movember.com  The goal of Movember is to "change the face of men's health- esp. Prostate cancer, Testicular cancer  Movember challenges men to grow a moustache for the 30-days of November, thereby changing their appearance and the face of men’s health.  In October Mo Bros sign up at movember.com, and on the 1st November start their moustache growing journey with a clean shaven face.
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  What others do: BEATING BOWEL CANCER DECEMBEARD  BBC –extends support to patients living with bowel  BBC-provides a dedicated nurse helpline  BBC –gives free informational material for patients in hospital at different stages of their diagnosis and disease
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  What others do:www.baldcartoons.com  ‘Bald cartoon movement’  Started in Brazil  Started to help children with cancer with their experience of undergoing chemotherapy and losing their hair.  The campaign centres on well-known cartoons from around the world that have been redrawn without any hair  The idea that “a child with cancer deserves to be seen just like any other child Cancer in childhood:
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  Cancer ribbons
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  How to stampout Stigma: Few suggestions Health care professional Patient  Reduce stigma to yourself  Share with those you trust  Read about others www.livestrong.org  Diagnosis and disclosure  Information needs  Support  Raising awareness  Expose frauds- Jicho Pevu
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  Oncology health careprofessionals’ attitudes to cancer: a professional concern  Regardless of gender, profession and clinical experience, all health care professionals display persistently negative attitudes towards cancer.  Need for radical change in the attitude of health care professionals towards cancer -to provide optimal care for this clinical population.  Changing these attitudes presents oncology health care professionals with a challenge that can no longer be ignored. N Kerney, M Miller et al, Annals of Oncology 14: 57–61, 2003
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  Challenges  Politicalharassment  Health care discrimination  Poor welfare systems  Banalization of sufferings  Wearing down of families  Gender inequality  Human rights violation  Donor/media discrimination  Lack of knowledge, research and hope.
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  It is ourresponsibility to stamp out STIGMA of cancer “Be the change that you wish to see in the world” Mahatma Gandhi