National Federation Party Leader, Professor Biman Prasad says pictures and videos emerging about the shocking and deplorable conditions for COVID-isolated patients in Fiji hospitals are no surprise, nor should they be.
Professor Prasad says two months ago Ministry of Health officials publicly warned us about the dangers of our health system breaking down under the weight of COVID numbers.
The NFP Leader says the Government refused to listen to advice and he again says that it arrogantly refused to lock down.
Professor Prasad says now this disaster is upon us.
He says there is a video circulating about a dead patient being left in a temporary hospital ward for hours.
The NFP Leader says everyone knows a story about ambulances being called which never turn up. He says they hear about a case where a person’s body stayed in a car for five hours in the hospital carpark because no one had time or resources to help.
Professor Prasad says tragically, people affected by non-COVID conditions are now dying because they cannot get into hospitals for care.
He says these were all things we were warned about, by our own health officials.
Professor Prasad says up to now the bulk of our cases has been in the Central Division, which is serviced by the best hospitals.
He says as the disease spreads around Viti Levu, the situation will get much worse.
The NFP Leader says this damage is now too late to fix and these desperate stories will continue.
He says we all know that deaths from this outbreak will be measured in the hundreds, and the horror of this is just beginning.
According to Professor Prasad, our leaders are silent, they offer no support, no information and they do not want to talk about this crisis because they have difficult questions to answer about their utter failure to lead.
He pleads with people to do their best to protect themselves.
The NFP Leader calls on people to wear masks and follow the physical distancing rules.
He calls on everyone to please get vaccinated, if not for yourself then for the health and safety of your nearest and dearest around you.
