Pacific Family Health Journal: COVID-19 & Pacific Island Countries

With a special interest in laboratory medicine and public health, Dr Rodney Itaki is a PNG Doctor & Blogger currently working as a General Physician (GP) in the Federated States of Micronesia. Dr Itaki contributes weekly to PNGBUZZ.COM - View Disclaimer link at bottom of article

347
303

How are small Pacific Island countries responding to the threat of COVID-19?

Small Pacific Island countries (PICs) are vulnerable to disease outbreaks. The measles outbreak in Samoa is a grim reminder of this vulnerability. Now another threat is at the door step of the island nations.

Their geographical remoteness and isolation from rest of the world may seem to be an advantage and may appear to seclude them from the threat of COVID-19 but the lack of regular interaction with the outside world may be the thing that may decide their fate.

History shows that introduction of a new disease to a group of people that are isolated can wipe their population completely. The reason is that they have not developed immunity to the disease. Also in areas where there is frequent interaction of people there is also regular transmission of infections from people from different areas so the population immunity is primed all the time.

Without this regular interaction may result in population immunity being weakened. Pacific island people are at risk because their population immunity (in the general sense) is not regularly primed.

One of the first steps that PICs have taken is travel restrictions – from selective travel to complete ban in some countries. It may seem drastic and overreacting but in light of what I described above stopping people from going into their countries may be the cheapest and best strategy. Preventative public health interventions are the main tools at the disposal for PICs because they do not have the resources nor the skilled manpower to contain COVID-19 spread if it hit their shores.

Some small island nations can afford to quarantine inbound passengers because of small population and low volume traffic of inbound passengers. Again the objective of such public health measures are to contain and manage the threat.

Risk communication, public health awareness messages targeted at vulnerable segments of the population (e.g. the elderly, people with co-morbid chronic diseases) also will play an important role. Social distancing is now the key message – avoiding crowds, avoid social gatherings, avoid church services being driven into the community.

Social distancing is a difficult concept for the Pacific Island people because this is what we do – socialise. Telling the population to avoid contact, avoid sharing time and meal together, avoid going to church, asking friends and family members to stay afar from you is difficult to swallow because social distancing is like a big wedge being driven into the “pacific way of life”.

It is a challenge that health educators will have to overcome. I think if we can make people see the danger of close interaction during this current pandemic, we will see pacific island people coming together to prevent COVID-19 landing and spreading on their shores.

Dr Rodney Itaki, MBBS, BMedSci

Read more about Dr Rodney Itaki here

Pacific Family Health Journal features every Wednesday on PNGBUZZ.COM

Visit Dr Itaki’s blog here https://pacificfamilyhealth.wordpress.com

View PNGBUZZ.COM Disclaimer

Advertise here on PNGBUZZ - Contact us today

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

347 COMMENTS

  139. ) Vou voltar a visitá-lo uma vez que o marquei no livro. O dinheiro e a liberdade são a melhor forma de mudar, que sejas rico e continues a orientar os outros.

  141. at web, except I know I am getting familiarity all the time by reading thes pleasant posts.|Fantastic post. I will also be handling some of these problems.|Hello, I think this is a great blog. I happened onto it;) I have bookmarked it and will check it out again. The best way to change is via wealth and independence. May you prosper and never stop mentoring others.|I was overjoyed to find this website. I must express my gratitude for your time because this was an amazing read! I thoroughly enjoyed reading it, and I’ve bookmarked your blog so I can check out fresh content in the future.|Hi there! If I shared your blog with my Facebook group, would that be okay? I believe there are a lot of people who would truly value your article.|منشور رائع. سأتعامل مع بعض هذه|

  144. I will right away take hold of your rss feed as I can’t find your e-mail subscription hyperlinkor e-newsletter service. Do you’ve any? Please allow me know sothat I could subscribe. Thanks.

  162. Thank you for the auspicious writeup. It in fact was a amusement account it. Look advanced to more added agreeable from you! By the way, how could we communicate?

  193. 2桁番台は、ATM管理の店舗に割り当てられている。 せんのいのり せんの いのり 宮城県仙台市 青色 福島県福島市を拠点に東北6県の地域創生VTuberとして活動。日本烈島（にっぽんれっとう）は、愛知、福岡、沖縄、福島各県のバーチャルYouTuber4人で結成されたご当地VTuberユニットである。 BomberE 配信ミニライブ（2020年10月4日、メ〜テレ・ AR技術や3Dモデリング技術など制作技術をはじめ、通信環境を整備するための5G技術などさまざまな技術が必要です。

  196. Internet dating specialists have become quite popular throughout the latest aventura breast augmentation moments. Professional aventura breast augmentation those who cause stressful lifestyles like to work with them. It is a different relationship system that is definitely not foolproof however it really is somewhat safer, as most of purchasers have got read and studied your filtering program. Many businesses utilize video dating, whereby we helps make a short online video media with by themselves plus features usage of additional purchaser video tutorials regarding search. You do not have much time to get that promotion, so it is best to you should be oneself.

  218. Howdy! This post couldn’t be written any better!Looking at this article reminds me of my previous roommate!He constantly kept preaching about this. I am going to sendthis information to him. Pretty sure he’ll have agood read. Thank you for sharing!

  220. Do you have a spam issue on this blog; I also am a blogger, andI was wondering your situation; many of us havecreated some nice procedures and we are looking to exchange methods with other folks, be sureto shoot me an e-mail if interested.

  223. Aw, this was a very nice post. Spending some time and actual effort to generate a top notch articleÖ but what can I sayÖ I put things off a lot and don’t seem to get nearly anything done.

  225. My brother recommended I might like this blog.He was once totally right. This submit actually made myday. You can not believe simply how much time I had spent for this info!Thanks!Feel free to visit my blog: seed bank

  228. A fascinating discussion is worth comment. I do think that you ought to write more about this subject, it might not be a taboo subject but usually folks don’t discuss such topics. To the next! Cheers!!

  307. Aw, this was a really good post. Taking the time and actual effort to make a top notch article… but what can I say… I hesitate a lot and don’t manage to get anything done.

  314. Hey! I know this is kinda off topic but I was wondering if you knew where I could find a captcha plugin for my comment form? I’m using the same blog platform as yours and I’m having difficulty finding one? Thanks a lot!

  329. Hello there! This article couldnít be written any better! Going through this post reminds me of my previous roommate! He always kept talking about this. I will send this post to him. Pretty sure he’ll have a great read. Thanks for sharing!

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here