“It’s been a fantastic response by the Pacific community…We really thought the second wave would hit our families with the large numbers within our families but, they responded really well, we’re at the five percent mark and we haven’t seen that second wave”.

“They’ve listened, they’ve stayed isolated, they’ve stayed within their bubbles and it’s been a real pleasure to see them respond to that.”

However, Dr Maoate stressed that even though families are able to extend their bubble to help other family members in level 3, the message to remain an exclusive bubble should still be the priority, to ensure the community progress to date is not compromised.

Dr Maoate also highlighted that the next challenge for Pacific communities will be unemployment and existing equity issues that have been intensified during the lockdown.

“Sixty-five percent of families that received Covid-19 Packages of Support are because people no longer have jobs, up to 80 percent just can’t meet the needs of the day”.

“Everyone is struggling for jobs, there are cash flow issues, remembering that in the Pacific communities the average income is only about $20,000 per annum so there’s no give in the system to cope with situations like this.”

“If we continue on the current pathway supporting our families, it may need that extra support with food packages on top of what the rest of the country is actually doing…”

Link to full interview here

#pmafamily    #pmaunite

Date: Tuesday 28 April 2020