Gopal Khanal

Information is power. Many trials and tests of the past decades impel us to arrive at this conclusion. But, here is a condition. While right information is power, wrong information is detrimental. Access to information in general terms is always right, but how to communicate with the masses is a matter of skills and strength.
Communication is different from information. Communication involves active interaction between two or more actors while information is an isolated phenomenon. Information is a fact and knowledge obtained from study and investigation while communication is way of transmitting it to the large masses. In the contemporary world, information and communication cannot be confined into one corner of the globe, but it travels to wider space, creating its own world of utopia and anarchy simultaneously.
Information is the transmission of a message from a sender to a receiver, the content of the message ideally refers to objective facts and it collates independently from the human relationship between the informer and the informed. Communication is a bi-directional sequence of transmission of message where the counterparts are both senders and receivers. Communication receives life if the sender and receiver equally become active.

Policy & action
Here, we will be discussing the information and communication and how the communication sometimes dominates the information. And, it is all about the Nepal government's dealing with COVID -19 global pandemic and the public outcry as a response to the government's policy and action. It seems that there lacks the proper communication between the concern ministries, and information is not properly communicated to the common people.
Jageshwor Gautam, spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), appears on television daily informing the status of the pandemic. Regular update is of course essential, but the model of communication can be questioned and discussed. Only update of the statistics can further irritate the families, who have been already affected.
On October 18, Gautam said the government would not bear the expenses of those who can afford the treatment of the virus infection. This is the practical reality being executed on the ground. Those who can pay the costs are not demanding the government's support; only the needy people are seeking the assistance from the government. Therefore, it was wrong to issue such statement while the real issue was something different.
This decision drew flak from all quarters, including the ruling party leaders. Even the Chief Ministers of Lumbini and Gandaki States Shankar Pokharel and Prithvi Subba Gurung held policy different from the federal government and said they would bear the expenses of all the needy people. Sarcastic comments against the communist government filled the media outlets. Two days later, Minister for Health and Population, Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal clarified the two things.
First was about the policy on the management of dead bodies. There was no change in the existing policy on the management of bodies infected with COVID-19. Second was treatment policy. He said the government would bear the medical expenses of the economically poor, people with disabilities, single women, senior citizens, frontline workers, security forces and civil servants working in high-risk sectors, among others, in case they show symptoms. This makes clear that the government has not changed its policy on the COVID-19 patients. If so, how did wrong information was circulated?
On October 5, the government had decided to bear the expenses of the COVID-19 patients who fall into above-mentioned categories. Those who do not fall into these groups but have poor economic condition and cannot pay the treatment costs receive support from the government as recommended by the hospital or through self-declaration by the family members that the patients are unable to pay the costs, Minister said.
After the clarification from the Minister, one can ask - why did the spokesperson pass misleading information? This is called the mismanagement of information and wrong interpretation of the policy.

Strategy
Communication is important in the adverse time. Nepal government has been effectively fighting the pandemic, but it has not been able to communicate well with the public and media. Rumours have overshadowed its substantive works and achievements.
This is because of lack of proper dissemination. Strategic communication is needed in such time. It explores the capacity of all organisations - not only corporations, but also not-for-profit organisations and government for engaging in 'purposeful communication.' The government shouldn't tell lie to the people but should inform that it has been doing its best to save the life of the people. The timely lockdown, management of quarantines, sealing of border and treatment of the COVID-19 patients were elementary works it had effectively carried till the upsurge of virus in the Kathmandu valley.
The spike in Kathmandu has created problem. But, it should be dealt with stringent preventive measures and enhancement of the capacity of hospitals. According to Health Ministry, around 2,600 intensive Care Units (ICUs) with ventilators are available across the country, while additional 400 are in the process to be operated. Similarly, the work was underway to add 3,500 units with oxygen and monitors.
The government needs to communicate with the people properly, not to react to futile rumours, which are undermining its gigantic fight against the pandemic.

(Khanal is consulting editor at Gorkhapatra Corporation. khanalbro@gmail.com)