Deputy Speaker, while we welcome the belated interventions with regard to the H1N1 virus, the strategy - assuming that there was a strategy - appeared to be to simply pull down the shutters and hope that it would go away; just like an ostrich that hides its head in the sand believing that danger will pass.
At first, the country was told not to panic, that everything was under control and that this epidemic was something happening far, far away. Furthermore, the country was told that this must just be treated as normal influenza and that people must stay at home and it would go away. Then people began to die. Suddenly the department began to issue warnings to vulnerable people, the HIV positive, pregnant women, etc. The department admitted insufficient laboratory capacity and medicinal resources to protect the citizens of the country against this potentially lethal virus. Given the dynamics of the very mobile population, it should have been expected that no country could escape the spread of this virus and others. It is therefore incumbent on a responsive government to ensure the timeous and efficient implementation of strategies to minimise the impact of such eventualities, and have transparent communication and education at the earliest possible opportunity.
We extend our sincerest condolences to the loved ones and the dependants of those who have succumbed to this dangerous virus. We wish all those who are currently fighting the virus a speedy recuperation and call on the Department of Health to take all steps necessary to prevent further spreading of the virus and ensure sufficient availability of personnel, laboratory capacity and vaccines. I thank you.