Safety first
Precautions taken against cargo boats
HEALTH workers on islands in the Lau group have taken the lead initiative to ensure stringent COVID-19 protocols were followed when cargo boats visited at least twice a month.
Lakeba district representative Uwate Soko said these protocols had been properly adhered to by villagers in the past five weeks.
“The risk is always there especially when cargo boats travel right from Suva where the pandemic is,” Mr Soko said.
“I salute health workers for taking the lead in the fight against this virus, and we are glad that most villagers have followed suit.
“We have approached every preventive measure because we have vulnerable people on the island whose lives are at stake.”
Mr Soko said two checkpoints have also been set up near the Lakeba Jetty to safeguard the arrival of the boat and to ensure villagers adhered to safety measures.
He said cargo would properly be disinfected before they were offloaded.
He added that those who head to the jetty would be fully equipped with proper PPEs.
The Yadrana villager said vaccinations would be the only way forward to protect their loved ones from this pandemic.
“We heard that a boat is coming soon and will bring the COVID-19 vaccines, and we can’t wait to get vaccinated.
“For villagers who are still in doubt, health workers and village elders continue to encourage them on the importance of being vaccinated.
“This is the only way we can all be protected from this virus.”
Similar health protection measures have also been taken on Vanuabalavu and other islands on the group.
Businessman Tevita Fotofili said health workers were usually the first on the jetty when cargo boats arrived on the island.