Fijian authorities cannot have a business-as-usual response to the deadly global coronavirus outbreak, says Opposition MP Dr Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu.
He said while Fiji as a nation considered measures to counter the WHO-declared global health emergency, added one thing that must always be paramount was prevention.
“Prevention is better than cure. The Government of the day is tasked with the responsibility to ensure that coronavirus or COVID-19 will not reach our shores,” Dr Atonio said in his response to Health Minister Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete’s ministerial statement in parliament earlier in the week.
“The most important role of any government is to protect the health of its people, the whole nation expect the Government to prioritise their health over other considerations.
“We must, therefore, implement and enforce extraordinary measures similar to those of China to prevent COVID-19 from reaching Fiji and spreading.
“Government must remember that we are dealing with people and not numbers.”
Dr Atonio recommended some extraordinary measures to include:
1) Maintaining stringent border control at all ports of entry, both airports and seaports bearing in mind, Fiji is the Pacific geographical hub for air and sea travel;
2) Fiji Airways continues to service destinations that have confirmed coronavirus cases. Government and the airline have a legal and moral obligation to implement measures to protect Fiji’s aviation industry workers as well as those at local ports of entry;
3) Authorities must ensure they have the capacity and resources to detect, respond and treat an active case;
4) Government must have a plan of action that guides our response to a positive case and this must include declaring quarantine stations under the Public Health Act, upskilling medical personnel in terms of knowledge, resources and protective gear. The WHO has identified the risk to medical personnel who were treating active patients. Medical personnel have families as well and Government must implement protective measures for them; and
5) Government must continue to have dialogue and consultation with stakeholders and the public on the national plan of action against coronavirus and measures being implemented by the Ministry under the Public Health Act.
“Mr Speaker, the Government cannot continue its habit of deciding matters in isolation, as it has since 2006, especially for a public health emergency as we are facing.
“When there is lack of information and a further lack of consultation, the people understandably are susceptible to rumours, especially in the new information or rather ‘disinformation’ age.”
While Dr Atonio thanked Dr Waqainabete for his daily updates and statements over the last week, urged the ministry to give a daily video update to be broadcast on TV news and on social media to reassure the people.
“The WHO Director-General has recommended regular media updates to combat the spread of rumours and misinformation. Government must not be reactive but rather proactive against misinformation.”
