SHILLONG: The state government will work on a behavioural change strategy by training people to ensure they strictly adhere to health guidelines to combat the spread of COVID-19.
People not wearing masks in public or wearing these improperly leaving their noses or mouths uncovered is commonplace.
A meeting with all the deputy commissioners was held on Monday to discuss about changing the behaviour of people in the face of the pandemic, an official source said.
“The training is expected to be conducted in the next 15 days. We will train all the Dorbar Shnong who will then go door-to-door along with ASHAs”, the official said.
“To do that we have finalised the training module for individuals and expect it would change their behaviour. We are using the strategy for training different groups; it will instil in them a sense of responsibility”, the official said
The first group the Health department will target is the elderly. The elderly will be trained because they are a high-risk group. The Health department has developed a self-help diary for the elderly which would help them to continuously monitor their actions.
The other group is the mobile group, the section of population who go to offices, markets — generally those who go out for livelihood earning.
The Health department has laid down certain norms to be followed under the Epidemic Diseases Act — wearing masks, maintaining social distancing in public places and following the hand hygiene.
“People are supposed to follow the norms under Sections 188 and 269”, the official said adding that once people start understanding, change is inevitable.
The official maintained that there is a need for intensive awareness and mobilisation and the Health department has requested the community COVID management committees where the headmen are involved to help.
A survey conducted by World Health Organization (WHO) has found that a large number of people wear masks, but many of them wear these in an improper way. “Now we have to give another round of training on how to wear a mask”, the official said.
As for enforcement, the police are there, the official said admitting though that it is humanly impossible to ensure complete compliance. He cited the law against smoking in public places which has come a cropper for all practical purposes.
“But we need to bring the change”, the official said.
