Editorial:

Fiji does not have all or most of the state of the art medical facilities seen in countries like the United States of America, countries in Europe, Asia and nearer to home like Australia and New Zealand.

Nor do we have all their modern laboratories with advanced technologies on tests and other medical tests.

But today Fiji stands proud as one of the best recovery rates for COVID-19 cases, something that is sure to rival some of the bigger countries around the globe.

It has shown how such situations, grave as it may become, could be overcome when Government and the people work together – politics aside.

The recent announcement by Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama, who must be commended for taking a hard stance from the beginning, that 14 of the 18 cases Fiji had made a fully recovery is a sign of system that is working.

Latest statistics by worldmeter as of May 4, showed that there were 3,562,440 cases of COVID-19 worldwide with just under a quarter of a million deaths (248,102) while 1,153071 had recovered.

Of the active 2,161,267 cases, 2, 111,224 or 98 per cent were mild cases while 50, 043 or two per cent were either serious or critical.

Of the 1,401,173 cases that has been closed, 1,153,071 or 82 per cent had either recovered or were discharged while 248,102 or 18 per cent had died.

The great news for Fiji is that we are not part of the 18 per cent that had sadly succumbed to this deadly virus.

Health Minister, Dr Ifereimi Waqainabete and your medical team, please take a bow.

To everyone in Fiji who followed special restrictions brought in – see what happens when you adhere to these simple rules. The outcome is positive so far.

Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho and Rear Admiral Viliame Naupoto and your team of Police and army personnel thank you for a great job so far.

You all have shown that with limited resources but with the true hearts of a Fijian, that come with respect, humility and heaps of compassion you have so far made our beloved country stand tall in the world today.

Commissioner of Police Brigadier-General Sitiveni Qiliho during a press conference
in Suva on March 21, 2020. Photo: Inoke Rabonu

Such is the devotion to the efforts put in by Dr Waqainabete and all medical personnel, especially those looking after the remaining cases.

One only has to see how some of the world super powers are still having their political battles and finger pointing while the death toll ticks over.

Some of our politicians could do well to learn from this experience.

Those who were extremely critical of Dr Waqainabete and his team should thank him now for the measures brought in place by the Government and the Health Ministry as this probably saved these critics from being one of the statistics.

Let’s keep up the great work Fiji and perhaps our hard line stance towards full recovery could be emulated by some of the bigger countries.

God is good.

Feedback:  charles.chambers@fijisun.com.fj