President urges everyone to observe the Covid-19 safety guidelines |06 November 2020
The meeting with the health delegation (Photo: Joena Meme)
Despite no evidence of community transmission of the coronavirus (Covid-19) in the country, it is crucial that everyone takes his or her responsibility by observing and respecting the various guidelines set by the department of health, President Wavel Ramkalawan has said.
The head of state made the statement yesterday, shortly after holding a meeting with senior members of the department of health, including Minister for Health Peggy Vidot, Public Health Commissioner Dr Jude Gedeon and chief executive of the Health Care Agency, Dr Danny Louange among others.
President Ramkalawan was accompanied by Vice-President Ahmed Afif.
Following his election last month, President Ramkalawan promised that the Ministry of Health would be among the first establishments he would visit to get a perfect overview on the country’s Covid-19 situation.
Through detailed presentations, the presidential delegation was briefed on the various measures and precautions that should be taken, in line with the pandemic and its consequences on both the economy and the population.
It was also the opportunity for the country’s leaders to know the financial and logistic needs of the department, mainly in terms of equipment and medicine.
The issue of vaccine was also raised at yesterday’s meeting and President Ramkalawan explained that since Seychelles has been marked as a high-income country, it will have to pay for everything, while other countries in lower categories will benefit for free from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
He explained that with the country’s current economic condition, Seychelles will request that WHO reconsiders its position, removing it from the first bracket so it can benefit from the available concessions.
An Isolation centre also topped yesterday’s agenda where President Ramkalawan requested for an immediate plan and costing for the building of a new facility.
The department’s spending was also looked into yesterday and one particular area to be tackled is the fee of agreement with the Berjaya Beau Vallon Bay Resort which is being used as a quarantine facility.
The head of state noted that the present fee is R800 per room and even if not the full facility is occupied at one go, the whole hotel is being paid for.
President Ramkalawan further added other negotiations will take place in different areas where unnecessary spending can be reduced, or cut completely.
Roland Duval
