CHAIRMAN of the National Disaster Operations Committee Loti Yates said in the event that COVID-19 breakout happens in the Western Border they can manage the situation.
“But it will be a huge challenge logistically and financially for the government,” he revealed this in response to a question on how the government will respond with a lockdown in the Western border.
The government have already done more than one trial lockdown exercise in Honiara but how will it react if there’s an outbreak in the Western border some people asked.
Yates further stressed that a response plan was already in place for the border region and it will used if there’s a need for a lockdown.
Accompanying the response plan Yates said the government had already built few quarantine station in the Western border
“Like I said earlier operating in the Western Border will be a huge challenge logistically and financially for the government.
“We try as much as possible to ensure that if any outbreak in any community at our border region we have to contain it there,” Yates told the media.
With the response plan he further highlighted that the Ministry for Health and Medical Services make all attempts to prioritise COVID-19 vaccination in Shortland and other communities along our Western border
“To date MHMS covered almost 90% of COVID-19 vaccination at the Western border more especially in Shortland Island,” he added.
Johnathan Tafiariki the N-DOC Camp Management Chair (Interim) also added that in terms of lockdown trials we know that Western border is very different from Honiara where we all confined on the land unlike the border we have communities scattered in the islands.
“We have been doing trial lockdowns with some of the communities in the Western border.
“MHMS also continue to roll out awareness in the communities along the border region on how to respond to any positive COVID-19 case entering their communities.
“The same was done by our Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF),” Tafiariki added.
From the health perspective N-DOC Health Chair Dr Nemia Bainivalu said the MHMS is working closely with Western Provincial Health Operation Sector in Gizo.
“The MHMS is working together with the community chiefs and their house of chiefs in the Shortland Islands on their community respond plans which they have taken it very seriously.
“Our team at the MHMS is only there to provide technical support to these communities and most of all the Western health Operation Sector which they will carry out their response plan when a lockdown is needed in our border region,” Dr Bainivalu added.
By ANDREW FANASIA
Newsroom, Honiara
