Mothers urged to protect children from rotavirus

By Ueni Peauala Pauulu 27 July 2021, 11:00AM


Tavaesina Fanene, 53, Nofoalii

"It is the parent’s responsibility to look after their children especially us mothers. We have to be active and be energetic all the times to take a good care of our children. No matter what kind of house you are living in and raise your children, you must keep it clean and tidy your surroundings  to protect children from all these diseases."

Lauano Ah Ching, 58, Sinamoga

"The Ministry of Health is not taking their responsibilities seriously enough by informing the public about this new virus. It is their job to advice the public when a dangerous disease comes into Samoa and they need to educate parents about the impact and the solutions to minimize the spread. They need to learn from the measles crisis, we don’t want to go back to the same ocean that we have been sailing through, in recent years. It’s a big number of children affected and they need to do something about education as well to avoid the spreading of that disease."

Ioane Ulugia, 51, Vaiusu

"My opinion on what is happening, not only in Samoa but around the world, as the prophecy in the bible says that when we have wars, disasters, as well as diseases, we should know that we are close to Jesus' second coming. So we should prepare ourselves as the prophecies are real. But no parent wants their kids to become sick, but because of carelessness and being lazy looking after children, endangers the lives of our children."

Siatuolo Peni, 51, Fagaloa

"Mothers should understand completely the environment that their children are raised inside and outside the house. It should be a very healthy environment and the bathrooms need to be clean at all times. After taking the children to the toilet, they need to make sure that they wash their hands properly using soap. The majority of mothers just sit and call out instructions like do this, do that but not getting up to see if the children are doing it or not. It is so sad to hear about this virus again, after losing lots of our lovely babies to measles not long ago. Mothers need to learn their lesson and protect their children carefully."

Fualaau Johnson, 55, Aleisa

"The Ministry of Health should have a specific vaccination for this new disease apart from the usual prevention vaccine for children and babies. We are aware of the new disease and the Ministry should inform all parents about the unsafe and dangerous situation so that we put that first rather than politics."

Taatiti Tietie Vaili, 58, Neiafu

"It is all mothers' responsibility not to put their children in harm's way. The majority of young mothers spend a lot of time on Facebook making useless posts, gossiping and spend time decorating themselves to look nice in front cameras, but avoid their duties of taking good care of their kids. Some mothers leave their children and go to bingo with earings and lipsticks. However, the environment that the children live in are unhealthy so they need to put the children first, clean their environment and prepare healthy food but not gossiping and interfering with other people's business."

By Ueni Peauala Pauulu 27 July 2021, 11:00AM
Samoa Observer

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