Dear Editor,

During the heat of the COVID 19 pandemic, I have come to notice that almost every shops, supermarkets in Port Vila have at their doors a bucket or a mini tank with soap.

As read in the daily post in Vanuatu, the hand washing cluster was activated by the Director of the department of water resources Erickson Sammy on the 18th of March 2020.
Following that, advice for hand washing not only placed on business houses but also extended to schools, markets, nakamals, and other stations such as a 20 vatu stall.

By adhering to the call for such prevention measures, I have notice that these hand washing stations have relentlessly carried out the hand washing cluster.

As a Solomon Islands student studying in Vanuatu, I was pleased to see how the public have responded to the call of the responsible authorities to install hand washing measures as a way to prevent the spread of the COVID 19 virus which is currently a pandemic around the world today.

As a concerned citizen of Solomon Islands, I believe this response to this deadly virus COVID 19 should be taken up by us the citizens and the government of Solomon Islands as well.

This might seem awkward as hand washing in public is not frequently practiced by many, but this practice I believe will change many people’s hygienic habits not only to prevent the spread of this deadly virus COVID 19 but to adhere to a healthier living.

I humble urge the responsible authority or the government to activate such measures as a way to prevent the spread of COVID 19 and I would kindly ask the citizens of Solomon Islands to practice hand washing at home or whenever exposed to public place.

Jessica Sale
Emalus Campus
Port Vila