Prevention remains our best defence

THE public’s lax attitude to health measures in the face of a global pandemic is quite disappointing, if not alarming.
People have largely ignored the mandatory wearing of masks in crowded spaces, including public transport, markets and churches.
This week, public servants have attended a gathering wherein most refused to put on the masks handed out to all upon entry.
The health minister has rightly castigated them who are expected to set the example by following the rules set by the Government.
A regular reader has raised similar concerns over the county’s relaxed attitude over the pandemic that is claiming hundreds and thousands in other parts of the world.
We echo some of her thoughts here.
People in the National Capital District, perhaps as other centres that have had confirmed cases, are either not informed or do not care about the good work done over the past 12 months in containing a further spread of the virus.
It is a scary thought what might happen if PNG were hit the same way as countries in the western world or elsewhere in Asia.
Some people are frustrated that information is still not reaching them and that the National Control Centre has ceased.
Only the National Broadcasting Corporation is continuing regular information service and talk back sessions to educate people to protect themselves in the global war with this disease.
Apart from that, there is no other continuous follow-up information, particularly about the declared hotspots in Port Moresby and other centres and what has happened since.
There has been no further information on contact tracing, especially out of those named hotspots.
The public need to know what is going on in places such as West New Britain where there is a reported spike in cases.
What is happening there and why?
Without clear knowledge, the public is likely to resist what health officials are doing to contain the spread of the virus.
With particulars of places and stories out of those places made known through the media, people who have been to those places or come into contact with others who had been there at relevant times, can go in for testing to stop any possible spread.
There is a general disregard of control measures under the Government’s Niupela Pasin campaign.
The media is playing a vital role in countries such as Australia and the same can happen here if journalists learn on the job, how to improve their investigative journalism skills including data gathering and reporting.
It seems that there is little contact tracing going on in Port Moresby.
It needs to be aggressive and the results published.
Media reports have recently stated that the new health secretary would take over from the police commissioner as controller of the national pandemic response but that has not happened yet.
There is misinformation based on the belief that God is protecting PNG; that we only need to trust God, that there is no need to follow recommended preventive measures any more.
If, as believing Papua New Guineans say, God is protecting PNG from Covid-19, it might help greatly to know how He has done so.
Without scientific knowledge, we continue the mistake of relying on mysticism.
Doesn’t He say somewhere in His word, “my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge?”
The PNG health system is not strong enough to cope with an outbreak and so our best defence still remains prevention.