The Ministry of Health in Suriname announced today that it is very upset about the various reports in the media and via social media about the first COVID19 deceased yesterday. Even before the authorities could have properly informed the family, the various media and others already had via Facebook with name, name and photo of the deceased sent around. Among them, for example the Suriname Herald site who found it necessary to immediately distribute the name and photo of the deceased.
“Isn’t it inhuman and terrible to deal with the suffering of the family in this way? The children had to hear it through the media. This should never be repeated ”, says Director of Health, Cleopatra Jessurun (photo), deeply disappointed on behalf of the Ministry.
Director Jessurun, who is also a doctor, emphasizes that there is legislation regarding the privacy of patients. “From the beginning, people have enjoyed spreading the personal information of patients and now of the deceased.” The director emphasizes that this can happen to anyone. It has been emphasized several times not to disseminate personal information about COVID-19 related individuals. “This has a very emotional effect on these people and their privacy is being seriously damaged.”
Jessurun wonders what added value society and distributors can have if they know exactly who it is. “Is one person worth more than another? Aren’t we all equal? But now family members are being stigmatized and that is due to these reports, ”says Jessurun. The families of these persons are viewed differently. For example, the family of the deceased yesterday expressed their displeasure to the director. They experience this as very emotional. The director expects society to take a critical view of this issue, because this can happen to anyone.
She also expects the media not to publish images, names and names of patients and / or deceased persons, because this only causes misery. She hopes that all Surinamese will heed this and out of respect for our brothers and sisters this phenomenon will not be repeated.
“We wish strength to the family and surviving relatives. We wish the other patients to recover and we ask society to adhere to the COVID-19 rules and protocols. Be safe and healthy ”, says Jessurun.
