By Asma’u Ahmad
Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services is taking steps to prevent outbreak of any potential diseases after tropical cyclone Mona.
Tropical cyclone Mona brought heavy rain and flooding to the island nation, according to a government statement on Monday.
Ifereimi Waqainabete
Minister for Health and Medical Services Ifereimi Waqainabete said that health officials had already started to assess the situation in communities, according to the statement.
“We have been very fortunate that the weather conditions are not as bad as we expected. “However, with the heavy downpour and people taking shelter at the evacuation centres, there are always possibilities of disease outbreaks. So our focus is on public health.
“We will continue to strengthen our public health capability. There is always a possibility of disease outbreak, so we will be visiting villages, places, inspecting the environment and providing the right advice to people. Prevention is better than cure,’’ Waqainabete said.
Health officials are making regular visits to evacuation centres as well and giving out wash kits to evacuees. The Health Ministry is strongly advising people to boil drinking water, practice good hygiene habits and ensure their homes, compounds and surroundings to be clean.
Tropical cyclone Mona has severely affected Fiji, with roads being closed, flights cancelled and thousands of people sheltered in evacuation centres across the nation.
In 2016, Fiji was hit by the full force of tropical cyclone Winston, which left 44 people dead and destroyed tens of thousands of houses.
