Is illiteracy a comorbidity?

I just realized that those who cannot read or write may have a difficult time dealing with vaccination schedules, registration and the like even as they are aware of the dangers of a pandemic.

As I was signing up our workers I was told that two of our guys were hesitant because of difficulty in filling up forms, or even downloading an app as most cities now have. If you do not have a partner who is literate, what becomes of someone in this situation?

We talk about vaccine hesitancy but has it been discussed if the marginalized like these two staff are considered? Maybe they do not wish to deal with forms and registration but are as scared as anyone to contract the virus or get infected by someone asymptomatic.

Where do people like them go for help or support? Are they considered as persons with disability (PWD), comorbid or just an ordinary citizen who can feel helpless as they hear of rising numbers but unable to defend themselves because of illiteracy?

Maybe we can ask our Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) and check the numbers of the illiterate and non-educated sector and see how they can be helped to register for their vaccine. I am certain it is not only a disability but a source of embarrassment as well.

This marginalized sector needs a champion (in Congress?) who can look after their special needs – be it elections or vaccinations. Anything that needs reading and writing will be a challenge for this group. I remember a driver of ours who got away with this and hide his disablility by using his photographic memory. He would memorize plate numbers of cars, without a mobile phone to take pictures yet during that time. He would memorize letters and numbers instead of reading. It was memory work that worked for him. He managed to get a driver’s license and spent most of his adult life driving for our company.

What I also realize about the illiterate is that they try harder. They compensate for their lack by being more industrious, being creative or being “maabilidad” or resourceful. God bless the illiterate who is bossy or throws his or her weight around. Am sure they do not like to be found out as such then ridiculed, so they often take the back seat and just work their way around the system. They can excel in other fields like art, agriculture and other jobs or careers that do not involve reading or writing.

But during this pandemic, their needs are real. Maybe they cannot go by themselves to a center without shame or insecurity of being found out. They will have to depend on partners or spouses, children or maybe a neighbor to help them out.

Whatever the solution LGUs may have, this sector must not be left out. If, among our farmhands, there are two among just a few, there could be many more like them who need help but are silent.

I hope that our officials heed this call to protect the uneducated, the illiterate and the poor who have no means to fend for themselves when reading and writing are necessary.

Who knows? If we address this sector, we may be able to jab those who think they will never get the jab at all. So think of everyone when we think of hesitancy. There could be many reasons like:

• Fear. Believe it or not, even grown big men fear the needle.

• Fear of side effects. Many are standing at the sidelines until more people get their jabs and effects are seen over time. I find this reason very selfish.

• Fake news. Many people believe the fake news being spread on social media on ill effects of the vaccine like Bill Gates’ “plan,” conspiracy theory, Chinese world domination, etc.

• And last but not least is ILLITERACY. Some people just shy away because of incapacity to understand more facts, and inability to register for the jab.

If we are targeting herd immunity, it’s time to check how many of the uneducated, the illiterate we must find and address their concerns too.

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Chit Juan is an entrepreneur and is chair of the ECHOSi Foundation, helping marginalized Women Micro Entrepreneurs (WMEs) find access to markets and training.