Raise more awareness

THE state of emergency’s latest national emergency order N0.37 re-defines the definition of the Covid-19 to include cases of respiratory illness, including cases classified as pneumonia.
Does that include asthma patients?
While this may be a good turn of events to find out if the Covid-19 is in the country is undetected, it will also pose a high risk to asthma patients.
My aunt, who is an asthma patient, nearly lost her life recently at the Gerehu General Hospital.
She was told that she was now a Covid-19 suspect and was treated as one which made her panic.
She was isolated in the hospital for treatment.
After recovering from the asthma attack, she was able to breathe normally.
She was told that a sample would be collected from her for the Covid-19 test.
With not much awareness done on the Covid-19 in communities, she didn’t understand what was happening and panicked.
Her asthma attack went from bad to worse and she almost lost her life.
From that experience, I realised that there is need for more awareness on the Covid-19.
Awareness should be done in communities, settlements and suburbs in Port Moresby.
Just because Port Moresby is a city doesn’t mean everyone have access to radio, TVs and smart phones to keep up with news in the media and social media.
Awareness should be done at the grassroots level.
The SOE controller should come forward and clarify what the national emergency order No. 37 is and who it applies to.
Does it apply to asthma patients?
If so, do they have counter plans in place for the stigmatising that is bound to follow all asthma patients?
Will people with respiratory illness and asthma attacks be subjected to testing?

Confused,
POM