Health Minister, Dr. Frank Anthony yesterday said that more cooperation is needed from residents of Moraikobai to better assess the COVID-19 situation in the area even as more cases have been recorded.
This was stated during the Minister’s COVID-19 update when he said that as of yesterday the Mahaicony River community had recorded more cases of the virus. He stated that while previously cases in the area were around 33, COVID-19 cases are now approximately at 44.
Giving an update on the Region Five community, Dr. Anthony stated that late last week a regional team which consisted of the regional chairman, other officials and health personnel went into the largely indigenous village. The health personnel stayed over the weekend in an attempt to have as many persons as possible tested. “Unfortunately I think there are a lot of mixed messages that are still floating around in the community and therefore the health team was not able to do much testing, because again, residents did not fully cooperate with the team”, Anthony stated, while adding that the team was only able to do approximately 17 tests and that it was quite unfortunate that such a small amount of persons were tested.
He added that to have a better understanding of what is happening in the community more persons will have to be tested.
The minister reported that they will be sending in additional health personnel to the area to stay for a longer period. The community he iterated already has health personnel but the ministry wants to reinforce that presence.
“We want to reinforce that by sending in some other personnel, to ensure that they’re able to get people to do the right things. You know these measures don’t work if people don’t cooperate”, he said.
During the visit by regional officials he said that they received assurances from the community that they will cooperate and work more closely with the health officials. However after the regional officials left, health authorities did not get the same cooperation they were told they would receive.
“I’m not sure why but we will have to keep working with people because that’s the only way we will resolve this”, Dr. Anthony said.
Last week, Toshao Colin Adrian had said that the Village Council is in the dark about the COVID-19 situation in the community and that his expression of frustration to the Regional Health Officer had resulted in persons believing that Moraikobai leaders were being uncooperative.
Adrian had told Stabroek News that they hardly receive information on what is going on in the community regarding the COVID-19 situation. He added that usually they are not even aware when the health team leaves and enters the community and this has been a challenge for the council because they are not being told anything.
