Former Governor of Madang, Minister for Health and senior statesman, Sir Peter Barter has stated that attempts to make people aware of the threat of COVID19 virus we have failed to implement the protocols that would reduce the spread.
Although PNG seemingly has escaped the virus, we are simply guessing as we are simply not testing sufficiently to obtain the data needed to plan a strategy that would minimise the spread by masking, distancing and washing. Our markets, transport systems and other places where crowds gather are allowed to go on without any control.
All around PNG there is evidence, in Indonesia thousands of people are dying daily including West Papua which share its order with PNG, Asia, Fiji and Australia where more than half the population are locked down.
With the advent of vaccines, the virus has become a “disease of the unvaccinated”. There is now proven evidence that supports the need for us to be vaccinated, not just for yourselves, but for your family, wantoks, work mates and not least to restore some normalcy in economical and social life of everyone in PNG. Even in the unlikely event you have been vaccination, you are unlikely to be hospitalised or become seriously ill.
The risk of any adverse effect from vaccinations fare exceeds the benefit in the same was other diseases have been minimised such as polio, measles, chicken pox, tetanus to name a few.
The social media as well as some media within PNG and from international sources are misleading, they have created fear and uncertainty which has been further expanded by some educated people supporting fake stories or their own poor understanding of the virus and what we should all be doing to be vaccinated.
The question we need to ask ourselves are we, you prepared to wait until the virus in particular the Delta Variant takes hold in PNG before making the decision to be vaccinated – the people whose countries that have been devastated are begging to be vaccinated, thousands of people are lined up begging to be vaccinated whilst we in PNG ignore the generosity of donors that have supplied vaccines and those health workers working tirelessly undertaking testing and vaccination.
Various people, organisations are campaigning against being vaccinated and whilst we all have a choice to be vaccinated or not, sooner than later, the Government will need to introduce new measure to encourage people to be vaccinated, perhaps by making it compulsory for all health workers others that are in direct contact with the public to choose be vaccinated or be stood down until the Pandemic is under control. Maybe institutes of higher earning may only permit vaccinated students to classes in 2022.
It is almost certain that airlines and other transportation systems including cruise ships will only permit passengers and guests that are fully vaccinated, this in effect is now happening in many countries including our nearby neighbours.
The Melanesian Foundation has published Q&A booklet responding to many of the questions being asked in detail, thousands of copies have now been distributed to the Provincial Health Authorities. In addition, the Foundation is distributing “I have been vaccinated” buttons to be worn by those who have been vaccinated in the hope it will encourage others to be vaccinated.
What is certain until we recognised the danger in PNG and take some positive action to reduce the spread, we will remain in a partial or worse locked down situation which has already had a dramatic effect on the economy of PNG.