Information can act as deterrent when all is lacking: Masiu

INFORMATION can act as a deterrent when all else is lacking, Information, Communications and Technology Minister Timothy Masiu says.
Masiu made this known when he met with members of the Eastern Highlands health authority (EHPPHA) on Wednesday, urging them to use all forms of communication when carrying out Covid-19 awareness.
Masiu said that it was paramount that in these trying times, when the health system had only 4,000 nurses, around 5,000 beds in hospitals and health centres and only 14 ventilators, information overload to the masses was what was lacking most.
“Please utilise the local NBC radio stations; walk around in the settlement and villages and educate more people.
“Use all forms of media tools to tell the masses what the real tragedy is if it strikes PNG,” he said.
“As the ICT minister, I have got my department to set up a call centre, which is up and running, taking questions from around the country which is collated and forms a brief for me to ask the health minister during question time in Parliament.
“I have set up a website, Facebook page and a radio programme aired at different times at different radio stations which I host together with Dr Eserom Kauona.”
Masiu said that the more Covid-19 safety messages were being discussed, the easier it was for them to understand and remember.
The local radio station is being instructed to air hourly messages three times a week on national radio to give updates on EHPPHA and its Covid-19 messages.