AS positive cases in Honiara continue to show signs of slowing down, it’s the rural communities that we are concern with because they are now are likely to be hit hard with increased number of cases.
Over the past days there have been increased recorded cases in our provinces and rural communities.
Already, there are reports of community transmission penetrating through our rural villages and communities.
Many people have been suffering from flu-like symptoms.
Remember the virus moves if people move.
So with ongoing movement by our people between the islands, it helps to spread the virus at a much faster rate.
Close to 80 percent of our people are living in rural areas and that’s where most of our vulnerable and elderly people are living.
Therefore, it’s important to try as much as possible to protect them.
However, it’s a concern because our rural clinics and hospitals lack the much needed facilities such as oxygen concentrators to treat severe cases and those who may have breathing difficulties.
Our scattered islands and geographical locations had presented a tough challenge for our rural population to access medical services.
But despite the surge in community transmission in our rural communities, the bonus is that they are able to manage and support our rural people from getting too ill using local remedies.
There are many stories of how our rural people who apart from taking daily steam, have also resorted to drinking local herbs to prevent them from getting severely ill.
In Choiseul Province, there were reports of people using local remedy to overcome the illness.
And its proving to be working for them.
One thing we should know is that COVID is here to stay and we will have to live with it.
This means, anytime it can attack you. So the best solution is to get your jab today.
Because it would help you to withstand any more attack.
Already there are people who are unvaccinated who got the flu twice.
This means they are vulnerable.
As have been advised by our health authorities every now and again, vaccination is the only solution.
Also it’s important to practice the health protocols and strict measures.
This is through wearing of masks, social distancing, washing of hands using hand sanitisers and maintain hygiene at home.
