RSIPF prepares officers in Western Province for COVID-19

Keeping a social distance of one to two meters from each other is a good practice to prevent COVID-19.

This was one of the key messages highlighted during the awareness talks held by the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF) on 26 March 2020 for its officers in the Western Province to prevent any outbreak of the virus.

A team consisting of RSIPF officers and a health worker conducted an awareness talks to officers at Gizo, Noro, Munda and Seghe. The awareness program aims to equip police officers with relevant information on the COVID-19 should there be any outbreak of the virus in the country. Following these awareness talks police officers will assist health workers in the provinces to inform members of their communities on how to prevent an outbreak of the virus.

Staff Sergeant (S/Sgt) Macillar Haga from the RSIPF Police Academy Department says, “Maintaining social distancing is also very important. Maintain at least one to two meters between yourself and others especially if someone is coughing or sneezing. When someone coughs or sneezes, they spray small liquid droplets from their nose or mouth, which may contain a virus. If you are too close, you can breathe in the droplets, including the COVID-19 virus if the person coughing has the disease.”

S/Sgt Haga adds: “The other easy way to protect yourself from COVID-19 is by keeping your own hands clean and cleaning surfaces that you come into contact with such as door handles. Wash your hands regularly and thoroughly with soap and water or an alcohol-based hand rub. This will kill any viruses that may be on your hands.”

She told the officers who attended the awareness meetings at the various police stations: “RSIPF like any other Law enforcement agencies in the world have a key role to play in both supporting the implementation of public health measures to contain the outbreak and in preventing specific criminal activities arising from this context.”

“Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) is not required when patrolling a public place. The best way to protect yourself from illness is to practise regular hand washing. If you cannot wash your hands use a hand sanitiser. Do not touch your face. Regular hand hygiene prevents more illness than masks. Do not shake hands – if you do not need to touch someone then do not touch them.”

S/Sgt Haga explains: “When dealing with uncooperative individuals, limit contact and practice hand hygiene. Policing duties can potentially expose officers to COVID-19. Before coming back into direct contact with their loved ones, officers should maintain social distancing measures and follow these steps when returning home:

“Clean or decontaminate your work equipment, including shoes, avoiding the spread of particles/dust; Take off duty clothes and wash them with laundry soap as soon as feasible. Handle, transport and wash them in way that limits exposure to skin, eyes, environment and other clean clothes (avoid shaking clothes); take a shower or wash exposed skin with soap and water; and self-monitor for signs of illness.”

Provincial Police Commander (PPC) Western Province Chief Superintendent Mathias Lenialu acknowledged the awareness program and encouraged police officers in Western Province to practice personal hygiene as part of their daily habits to avoid the deadly virus.

As part of its COVID -19 Operation Plan to assist the Government’s efforts to prevent any outbreak of the virus in Solomon Islands, RSIPF officers from the Rove Police Headquarters assisted by officers from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services, have been conducting nation-wide awareness programs on the virus to its officers and family members at the Rove Police Headquarters in Honiara and other police stations in Honiara and throughout the provinces.