The Leader of the Opposition in Samoa Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, has called for more timely reports from the government on the current status of the Covid-19 pandemic so the country can be better informed.
Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi. Photo: Screengrab
He was speaking for the first time since he was released from quarantine after returning from treatment in New Zealand three weeks ago.
The former Prime Minister told a special programme on TV1Samoa on Sunday evening that timely reporting is an integral part of the drive to deal with protection from the coronavirus pandemic.
"People need to know what is happening," he said.
Tuilaepa praised the work being done by the government, especially frontline workers, but added that the general public needed to do their part in the fight against Covid-19.
"This is not a job for government and public servants alone, this is a job for everyone," he said.
He urged matai councils, women's committees and church organisations to pick up the mantle and help speed up the vaccination roll-out.
Tuilaepa said one of the important reasons for timely updates from the MOH was to scare people into getting vaccinated.
He said there are still people in the wider community who still do not believe in vaccinations to protect them from Covid-19.
"We have a small percentage to go before we are fully immunised,'' he said.
Using the analogy of the dawn of a new day being the coldest part of the night, he urged the country to be vigilant and get vaccinated.
The veteran politician took the opportunity to thank the government for ensuring he was sent under the overseas medical treatment programme.
He also thanked the public and church leaders for collective prayers offered on his behalf.
