OPPOSITION Leader Hon Matthew Wale has thanked the Government for taking into consideration advice to request for an epidemiologist to assist them.
The permanent secretary of the ministry of health Pauline McNeil in a talkback show yesterday said the Government has requested two epidemiologists from WHO and Australia both have already arrived in the country this week.
“This is welcoming news and the Government must be acknowledged for taking on board our advice,” he said.
That said, the Opposition Leader said the Government through the ministry of health should allow the epidemiologists and their team to lead response plans going forward.
Hon Wale also reiterated his earlier calls for either both epidemiologists to also take leading roles within the Oversight Committee or remove the Oversight Committee and make way for the epidemiologists and their team.
“I believe a team consisting of the epidemiologists and our local expertise will provide a clear direction on the way forward for us in bringing the current COVID situation under control,” the Opposition Leader said.
In fact, Hon Wale said these experts should have been requested a long time ago.
The Opposition Leader said the PS Health’s statement during the talkback show that border restrictions and availability of resources have delayed government requests for these experts is an excuse.
“We all know this is not true because even with the border restrictions there were many prioritised government flights which brought in many workers for the pacific games. That is an excuse,” he said.
Going forward, Hon Wale said with the help of the two epidemiologists a proper epidemiology data and modelling should be developed to show the current infection rate and to inform a proper response strategy.
OPPOSITION PRESS STATEMENT
