BY JOHN HOUANIHAU
M-SOUND Community in East Honiara had has put in place a localized lockdown effective as of Sunday 23 January for their small community.
At around 8:30am the community members convened a meeting to come up with plans and effective measures to protect possible COVID19 community transmission to it’s members.
The vicinity was located adjecent to three areas where COVID19 case were recorded amongst the 28 vicinity announced by Prime Minister Manasseh Sogavare in his 5th Nation wide COVID19 address on 22/01/2022.
These vicinities or communities are Abira, Mbaranaba and Jackson Ridge. More than 100 household are residing at M- Sound community since it’s establishment around year 2000.
Chairing the meeting that focused to protect COVID-19 community transmission was a young Lawyer, George Haikeremi.
“Our discussion will surround how we can protect us, like for instance the MP for East Are’are Hon Peter Kenilorea had authorize his people to limit movement within their Communities following MV Akwa’s travelling to East Are’are,” said Haikeremi.
He said currently the localized lockdown in East Are’are is currently in place . He explained to community members that ‘a localized lockdown’ means -it was not regulated by Government.
“We are surrounded by communities where COVID19 case have been detected and recorded and they are, Mbaranaba, Jackson Ridge and Abira.
“So we know that those are the nearest communities. So it is important that we have to take some vital positive measures,” he said.
Meantime the community members have agreed that no one except SIWA should to access the main road that run through the community opposite to Panatina valley to access SIWA’s bore hole in the Panatina area.
A community elder Michael ikau urged his fellow neighbours to take precautions and to follow every measures that was announced that is social distancing, wearing of Mask, “you must care for yourself, your community and your family.
” And to confirm, I already put down lockdown notice near to my house – the road to Abira and our community. So now we must consider other entry points into our community,” he said.
Ray Menia an elder also highlighted that what they are implementing is known as the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) plan which is also included in the government COVID-19 urban emergency zones.
” We must have plans in our community to guide us on what to do during situations like this. Schools also have this kinds of plans to follow if incidents happens,” said the secondary Teacher.
Mr Menia said they must and need to have plans on how to implement and how they can follow the instructions.
Anna, an women representative in the community meanwhile appeal at the meeting for the community members to have room for worship in this time of COVID-19 situation.
“We must also offer our times to pray. The disturbances we often have here is loud music, and I am asking everyone at least to allocate times so that each family can have some time to pray,” she said.
During the short successful meeting, three entry and exit road that runs through the community was identified, the entry and exit Jacobs ladder that link M-sound to Mbaranaba, a road that link Abira to M- Sound, and SIWA entry and exit road next to Panatina Valley.
After the meeting young men in the community with the support from their community elders blocked identified entry and exit roads to mark the start of the localised Lockdown which has now been effective and inforced. The length of the imposed community’s lockdown depends on the current situation and developments.
