Nation in mourning as death toll soars: Loifofoga ole faavauvau; tele soifua ua maimau

“E faia lava le finagalo o le Atua. Aua tatou te loto vaivai, peiseai ua leai se mana o a tatou tatalo. But let’s praise God that for our obedience and compassion, let’s thank God for the opportunity to be a blessing, let’s praise God that baby is in a much better place, and let’s thank God that the family are strong and comfort from all our prayers”, Pastor Eric Poe, Teen Challenge Youth Leader.   

24 November 2019 :  The last official NEOC press release #7 issued on Saturday evening, 23 November 2019 confirmed the death toll at 22.

The fatality toll continues to soar as reports continue to come through. The latest accounts were received  from 2 families with young ones who were in critical condition at the  TTM Motootua ICU, revealing the loss of 2 more young lives since Saturday night.

Doctors and nurses, as well as medical volunteers have been working around the clock to administer vaccination doses besides providing prescribed diagnostic care for the measles-afflicted children and their caregivers .

Young folks and their youth leaders from the Teen Challenge programme, have been amongst the volunteers who have been conducting daily visits at the TTM Hospital clinical wards assisting with the distribution of donated medical supplies,  visiting and counselling the parents and caregivers of the critically-ill children.

Teen Challenge is co-led and co-ordinated  by Pastor Eric Poe of the Harvest Centre Fellowship in Togafuafua, who moved his social media followers to tears,  in sharing a very emotional tribute offering condolences  to the family of Puamanuvae Mautofu, 2 years and 9 months, who lost his battle with measles on Saturday evening.

(Re-published with permission) 

‘Dear sisters and brothers in Christ, and all the amazing prayer warriors. I am humbled to thank you family for your prayers for baby PUAMANU MAUTOFU. God has answered, and God has called His little angle to be with Him forever. We talked with baby’s family and they are strong and comfort, and they thanked everyone for your love, ae tatou talia le finagalo o le Atua. I encourage you sisters and brothers, death is Gods ultimate and complete healing and rest for our weak and sick bodies. Lets not be weary, this is God’s wisdom and sovereignty, o le pule tutasi a le Atua. King David the annointed man of God, the man that even God said his heart is much closer to Him, fasted, sat in ashes praying to God to heal his son, but God answered him by calling his son home. Even Jesus prayed and asked God to take away that cup of death, but God answered by allowing him to die for the very purpose why he was sent. E faia lava le finagalo o le Atua. Aua tatou te loto vaivai, peiseai ua leai se mana o a tatou tatalo. But let’s praise God that for our obedience and compassion, let’s thank God for the opportunity to be a blessing, let’s praise God that baby is in a much better place, and let’s thank God that the family are strong and comfort from all our prayers. We continue to pray for our people, and believing for their healing. There are MIRACLEs that happened with other babies that we were praying for them by laying hands on their photos, that I will report on, at the right time. Ae malo le tatalo… Malo le onosai ma le alolofa i nai o tatou tagata, atoa ma le Atua ma lona finagalo. Happy Sunday”

The Ministry of Health and the National Emergency Operations Centre (NEOC) activated as a follow-up to the Proclamation of Emergency declared on Friday 15 November 2019, continues to urge the people in the prioritized age groups who are at high risk, to be vaccinated:
 All children: 6 months – 19 years
 Non-pregnant Females only: 20 to 35 years

Today in the afternoon, a group of doctors, nurses, health officials and volunteers headed towards Savaii, to kickstart the mass vaccination campaign for the big island.

By : Hannah Sila 

LOABAY NEWSLINE 

 

 

 

 

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