Coco Talanoa — Coco News / Page 38
Samoa’s Response: Lessons from a COVID-19 free country
As countries around the world continue to battle the devastation of Covid-19, Samoa remains one of the few nations to be Covid-19 free.
Dr Belladonna Potoi, an executive of the Samoa Association of General Practitioners, who lives and runs a clinic in her homeland, says Samoa learned to manage a pandemic after having to deal with a measles outbreak at the end of last year, which infected 5,700 people and killing 83, mostly children.
When the Samoan government discovered Covid-19 was spreading across the world, it was one of the first country’s to close its borders.
“Very early on, we knew we had to be proactive because if we didn’t, then it would have been the measles outbreak all over again, which was a horror story and was still fresh in people’s minds. Our response to another threat had to be quick,” says Dr Potoi.
The foresight paid off and the Pacific nation avoided a Covid-19 outbreak.…more
Pacific Islanders hit hard by Coronavirus in California
Pacific Islander communities in California have faced economic and health disparties that make them vulnerable to the coronavirus reports abc10 news. and LAist.com
For two weeks in March, Dr. Raynald Samoa fought to move air through his lungs. After recovering from COVID-19, the Los Angeles-based diabetes specialist posted videos on Facebook urging others to stay home. His posts resonated with California’s small but tight-knit Pacific Islander community as questions and stories flooded his inbox.
One family described the anguish and guilt of watching a loved one struggle out of bed to the ambulance — “the least Pacific thing that you can do,” Samoa said — because the first responders wouldn’t come inside. Another family revealed how three breadwinners were hospitalized with the disease, unable to care for their kids.
Prime Minister of Samoa's response to the New Zealand Law Society
GOVT. PRESS SECRETARIAT;
Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has responded to New Zealand Law Society President Tiana Epati’s “serious concerns” with the constitutional law reforms under review in Samoa.
The Prime Minister’s reply is published verbatim.
“There is no place for the President of an overseas Law Society to use that organization’s name to try to lecture us or interfere with our country’s democratic processes.
Samoa’s Government is trying to create a Specialist Court of Appeal for its own cultural Lands and Titles to be legally acknowledged and preserved.
It is a matter now at Select Committee for public consultation, and it is a matter for Samoa. In short, it is none of your overseas presidential business.
All the best as you concentrate on the needs of all your society’s members, and we will concentrate on looking after our own country-Samoa.…more
How a Pasifika family of 8 survived after contracting Covid-19
When three members of the Havea family of Christchurch tested positive for Covid-19, they had to rely on their strong faith and their love for each other to get them through the challenging times.
Kilifi Havea, 42, his wife Seneti, 47, and their daughter Frances, 19, caught the contagious virus and were forced to quarantine themselves in the large family home they share with their five other children, whose ages range from 9 to 18.
“There was so much going on in my mind. It was a very hard time,” says Kilifi.
His wife contracted the virus while working as a senior carer at the Rosewood Rest Home in Christchurch, one of the worst clusters in the country. To date, eleven residents staying at the rest home have died from Covid-19.
Seneti tested positive at the beginning of April and soon after Kilifi and Frances also caught the virus. Once they were confirmed the rest of the family were immediately tested for the virus.…more
CORONAVIRUS WEEK 7 - COVID19 PACIFIC UPDATE
The CoconetTV ongoing Pacific Islands updates for our community in Aotearoa and the Pacific region.
To catch up on previous updates click here
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End of week round up -
NEW ZEALAND - Director of Public health Dr Caroline McElnay updated today and said that we have 1252 cases that are reported as having recovered from Covid-19, which is an increase of 11 from yesterday, and so 85 percent of all our confirmed and probable cases are considered to be recovered.
She said there are now a total of 1132 confirmed cases and 347 probable cases. There are still 16 significant clusters, but Dr McElnay said one cluster has not seen new cases in 28 days and will be closed. Today is the 13th day in a row that the increase in Covid-19 cases had been in single digits. The death toll stands at 19.…more
Pacific Mamas in Lockdown Pt3
Pacific mamas in lockdown, the Island soap opera continues as a Cook Islands dance group end up being in one big bubble for NZ Alert Level 4 and Alert Level 3. What does Alert Level 3 mean for these Islanders?
Who will stand in the McDonald's line? who will get to hook up with bae? will there be housie? who will have a shower? all this and more in this weeks episode of #IslandMamasBubble
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CREDITS:
Shot, Directed, Edited and acted by Rongomai
Additional Editing and Graphics by Adrian Mcbirney
FB: Ron-Go
YouTube: Rongomai Taiapa-Aporo
Insta: rongo___
ALERT LEVEL 3 - The Breakdown
Tonight at 11.59pm New Zealand will move to Alert Level 3 and while some people have been describing it on social media as Level 4 but with KFC - we break down some of the main changes for you below.
BUBBLES - You can open up your bubble slightly 'to reconnect with close family/whanau or bring in care givers OR support isolated people"
YES to a relative or loved one who lives locally and is alone OR you are returning to work and need childcare or care for those already in your bubble - someone can join to help.
NO to inviting your extended aiga over for to'ona'i, a reunion, celebrate a birthday, have garage drinks or a kava sesh etc ...
Small bubble extensions for one or two people if necessary.…more
1200 Pacific Family Violence Workers to Be Mobilised During Covid-19
A campaign to tackle increased family violence in New Zealand’s Pacific communities during Covid-19 was launched today.
The Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu, initiative led by The Cause Collective, will see 1200 family violence workers and community advocates mobilised throughout the country to help Pacific communities prevent violence. The campaign also includes radio programmes in eight different languages and using online forums to raise awareness about where Pacific families can get help and support during this time for family violence.
Data from NZ Police shows that the number of family violence incidents has increased since the nation went into lockdown late last month.
“Pacific families are particularly vulnerable during the Coronavirus pandemic with Pacific peoples already being disproportionately represented in intimate partner violence and child abuse statistics,” says The Cause Collective CEO, Rachel Enosa.…more
Info on Public Transportation once we move to Alert Level 3
Auckland Council Board Member Nick Bakulich has shared this info on Public Transportation once we move to Alert Level 3 -
What to do when you travel on buses:
Cash purchases will not be accepted on board during Alert Level 3. You must use a HOP card.
You must use the rear door to get on and off buses.
Tag on and off using the HOP card reader inside the rear door.
If you use a wheelchair or mobility device or require driver assistance, you can still get on and off using the front door.
Customers will not be able to use the first row of seats behind the bus driver.
Please observe the signs on board which indicate two-metre distancing.
Once a bus is at capacity, drivers will only drop customers off.
Cleaning of public transport
The safety of our workers and customers is a priority, so we’re making sure all public transport is cleaned regularly. We’ve also stepped up our regime to include antimicrobial cleaning.…more
Grandmother’s resilience in the face of delayed cancer treatments during Covid-19 Crisis
Samoan grandmother Christina Toleafoa, who is currently being treated for cancer, is like many in the community who is concerned with the threat of Covid-19.
But she has an extra reason to be worried because the crisis has affected her regular chemotherapy sessions. The extra precautions taken to minimise the spread of Covid-19 has meant her usual treatments are being postponed and her regular body scan, which tracks the progression of the cancer, is frequently delayed.
“It’s something that’s been on my mind since this all started. I’m very concerned,” she says.
The Ministry of Health has advised patients that they will continue to receive the same level of care nationwide during the Covid-19. But Christina says regular contact with her specialists have decreased and her consultations are now over the phone, as opposed to face-to-face.
Christina, whose mother died from breast cancer was officially diagnosed of the same condition herself in 2016 and her journey against cancer started with oral treatment.…more