Anti-Covid-19 campaign should not impede pressing medical problems, such as NCDs, or offering immunization services.
According to Mavis Podokolo writing in today’s Island Sun newspaper, Dr. Yogesh Choudri, the Technical Advisor to the World Health Organisation (WHO), based at the WHO Office in Honiara, has cautioned local health authorities not to allow the anti-Covid-19 campaign to impede other pressing medical problems such as dealing with Non-communicable Diseases (NCDs) and offering immunization services.
Ms Podokolo’s article said there are 300 beds at the National Referral Hospital (NRH) occupied by patients with NCD related illnesses.
Dr. Choudri has apparently said, quote
“It’s been a testing time for the country, the Ministry of health and its partners but they are very careful and concerned about the pandemic and Covid-19 in a NCD-affected population.”
“This is because there is a high risk of mortality amongst the people with NCDs so we are addressing these issues so that this people will continue to get the services in the times of COVID-19.”
Ms Pauline McNeil, Permanent Secretary for Health, has responded by saying, quote:
“We realise that our normal services need to continue to run at the normal functions.”
Yours sincerely
Frank Short
