BORDER SECURITY REMAINS TOP PRIORITY IN COVID BATTLE
Ongoing security and surveillance at the Western border with Papua New Guinea remains a top Government priority in the battle to prevent covid-19 from entering through that region.
The Western border is vulnerable to crossings from Bougainville, which already recorded one positive case.
Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare reiterated this message in his weekly national address Monday this week.
He said, “Whilst the attention has shifted to our students in the Philippines, the Government has not lost sight of our continuous protection operations at our western border,” adding that “the level of commitment remains intact as our front liners continue to provide surveillance at the border”.
Prime Minister Sogavare said the Western Provincial Health Emergency Operation and the Solomon Islands Medical Assistance Team are continuing work on the ground.
In the Shortland Islands, the eighth deployment of the Western Provincial Health Emergency Operation and the fourth deployment of Solomon Islands Medical Assistance Team have completed their mission to empower communities to prepare themselves against possible entry and spread of COVID-19.
As part of their mission the groups also supported clinical services and joint border operations and the overall COVID-19 preparedness and response at the border.
The ninth deployment of Western Provincial Health Emergency Operation Centre team are also now in Shortlands to support the activation of Triage and Isolation at Nila area health center.
“They will continue to provide all other necessary health support including Infection, Prevention, Control and Personal Protective Equipment trainings for new shifts from other sectors such as police and immigration,” he said.
The Prime Minister is also pleased to note that ongoing work to establish another quarantine station at Supizae Island in Taro, Choiseul Province is progressing well.
The National Health Emergency Operation Centre will continue to provide the necessary support required similarly to the establishments of quarantine stations in Gizo and Nila in the Shortland Islands.
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