Ministry urged to do virus awareness in villages

A village mayor has appealed to the Ministry of Health (M.O.H) to provide awareness programs and go out to villages to conduct seminars on how the villages can prevent the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19).

Vailele village mayor, Togia Amiga and high chief Saleupolu Kiope, spoke to Samoa Observer on the need to have these programs conducted in villages in order for them to prepare themselves.

"We are just waiting for the Government and also the Ministry's call on what to do, but for the village's protection we have stopped any huge gatherings, we have our village council meeting coming up where we will discuss everything that needs to be done to protect our village from this COVID-19," Mr Amiga said.

"We would have loved it if the Ministry of Health decides to come over and perhaps do a seminar on ways to protect ourselves from the deadly virus. We will be very happy to welcome them, I know they have been broadcasting it on social media, but we all know not everyone can access those things, it is best if they come to us and talk to us directly."

Mr Kiope expressed similar sentiments in support of the village mayor, saying running seminars in the villages by the M.O.H. will go a long way to enable villagers to prepare themselves.

"That would have been a nice move by the Health Ministry to go out and do seminars at villages, I have heard that it is our age group that is most likely to get affected. We already have a suspected case, so we must prepare ourselves and continue on praying for a safe Samoa," he said.

The matter will be discussed at the next village council meeting, added Mr Amiga, where the village's hosting of large gatherings such as sporting events will be discussed and cancelled if recommended. 

He added that at the last mayors' meeting, it was agreed that village council meeting minutes be cut and should not exceed three hours at the most, opening the door for more issues to be raised.  

The M.O.H did not responded to questions sent to them as of press time.