BY LIONEL TAORAO IN Ulawa.
THE number of Covid19 recorded cases on Ulawa Island in the Makira Ulawa province could have increased should people have tested for Covid19.
Taheramo clinic Nurse in charge, Mrs Angela Alahanimae revealed this yesterday Monday, March 14 after another eight positive cases were recorded at her clinic.
Mrs Alahanimae says many people have decided not to have tested because of the fear of being stigmatised with Covid19.
“Many people on Ulawa did not want to get tested for Covid19 because of the fear of being stigmatised Even though there y have developed Covid19 symptoms and have decided to just at home as if everything is normal”, she says.
“This is very sad because such information is important for us to know so that we can see what we should do, how we will do it and what medical supplies we need to help us”, she adds.
She stated that in many large communities around Ulawa, two or three people who tested positive for Covid19 have reported that many in their communities have developed Covid19 symptoms but do not want to come to the clinic to be tested.
One mother who has already recovered from Covid19 recently has shared the same sentiments about her family being stigmatised when they were tested positive.
The mother of three, who requests anonymity says that people in her community have stigmatized her family even until now.
“People told many rumours about us saying lots of negative things about my family which have caused division between other family members and those spreading rumours about us”, she says.
The Nurse in charge at Taheramo clinic says that she is very worried that people are also not putting into practice the Covid19 prevention measures such as wearing of face mask, social distancing and washing of hands.
“It is evident in many communities that they do not practice the Covid19 preventive measures and even when coming to the clinic, although we have put up a notice to remind people of these important measures”, Mrs. Alahanimae further added.
Mrs. Alahanimae says that she estimated that Covid19 cases on Ulawa Island should have tripled the current recorded cases if people come for tests.
