PNG Health Minister Wong says Circulate Coronavirus Cases at Nonga news Fake

​There was a report circulated on watsapp groups and on Facebook claiming it was from the Deputy Chief Physician of the New Guinea Islands and East New Britain Health Authority, Dr. Alex Maha issuing a public message that the Nonga Hospital is seeing an increase in patients with flu like symptoms, the highest number being 70.

The circulated message further claimed Dr. Maha saying several of their hospital staff are also sick with the same symptoms.

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Hence, in the message he says the hospital will scale down on its operations and only attend to emergency cases.

But Health Minister Jelta Wong today says the message is fake and not true and the that Dr Maha was not aware of releasing this message for public consumption.

Minister Wong says an irresponsible member of an East New Britain whatsapp group has taken the information provided by the doctor on good faith and edited his message before reposting it on facebook without the doctor’s consent or his superior’s consent.

The Health Minister says they will trace this person and have him charged for defamation.

Wong said: "That's astonishing behaviour and I hope the person responsible will regret their actions and apologise to the doctor."

He said throughout the world under-resourced medics are at the forefrontof the battle against COVID and they should be treated with respect and courtesy at all times.

FM 100 / PNG Health News

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