As world citizens continue to adjust and adapt to the various impacts of COVID-19 wherever they are, the realm of scientists, researchers & physicians are also embarking on a race of their own; i.e. identifying an anecdote that will help reduce, cure and eliminate the virus once and for all.

Prof. Eli Schwartz, is an Israeli physician who is on a mission to achieve a testing method that will help produce outcomes, whether a person is affected by COVID or not, within seconds. The media has labelled it the gargle test and some have referred to it as the one-second test.

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

The economic and social impacts of COVID-19 was the focus of the Pacific Forum Economic Ministers who met online due to restrictions imposed by the pandemic.  

 

Forum Ministers and Heads of Delegations acknowledged the new economic realities and challenges driven by the COVID19 pandemic.  They also discussed how considerable additional investment is needed and have committed to diversifying their economies with a focus on the digital economy.

 A COVID-19 Recovery Task Force will be established to respond to the common devastation and  build regional development and resilience.

We are joined now by Douveri Henao, who is Executive Director of the Business Council of Papua New Guinea-- the voice of the private sector to the government and people of Papua New Guinea. 

 

From new and emerging entrepreneurs to the global players like Exxon mobil to the Bank of the South Pacific, the region's largest bank with branches in all our islands -- Henao has mapped the impact of covid 19 on Papua New Guinea and says his country simply cannot afford to go into a repeat of the April lockdown which has seen two thirds of businesses there say they won't be able to survive to the end of 2020. 

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Helena Fuluifaga Chan Foung was born and raised in West Auckland Ranui, with her two younger brothers Elijah and Joshua. 

As well as being brought up in the Catholic Church, she shares a deep love and connection with her family of the ocean and coming through the Surf Life Saving Club at Te Henga Bethells Beach, credits the ocean has been one of the greatest classrooms.

Helena is in her final year at Victoria studying a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pacific Studies with Social Policy and Samoan Studies. 

 

In the last few years, she has been heavily involved in the social-environmental justice projects with Pacific Climate Warriors Wellington team.

Helena is also part of a group of young people in Wellington and Auckland who are behind the Pacific Votes Count campaign pushing for more Pasifika youth to vote.

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Radio 531pi was set up in 1993 by the Auckland Pacific Island Community Radio Trust.  Twenty seven years on the station now broadcasts nationwide and this week we look at featuring some of the people who helped pave the way.

Our guest this morning Sefita Hao’uli grew up on the island of Foa about 100 miles north of Nuku'alofa.  He attended Tonga High School before being sent to New Zealand to Auckland Grammar and continued his education at  Auckland University where he studied political science and psychology.

Sefita Hao’uli is a veteran journalist who has worked for Radio Pacific, Sunday News, TVNZ, a founding member of 531pi and a former chief executive of NiuFM. 

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Tina Ngata (Ngāti Porou) is a mother of two from the East Coast. Her work involves advocacy for environmental, Indigenous and human rights. This includes local, national and international initiatives that highlight the role of settler colonialism in issues such as climate change and waste pollution, and promote Indigenous conservation as best practice for a globally sustainable future.

We have  Tina Ngata join us on the program to talk about the use of social media to circulate particular conspiracy theories and misinformation that seems to resonate with our Pasifika and Maori people. 

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

As world citizens continue to adjust and adapt to the various impacts of COVID-19 wherever they are, the realm of scientists, researchers & physicians are also embarking on a race of their own; i.e. identifying an anecdote that will help reduce, cure and eliminate the virus once and for all.

Prof. Eli Schwartz, is an Israeli physician who is on a mission to achieve a testing method that will help produce outcomes, whether a person is affected by COVID or not, within seconds. The media has labelled it the gargle test and some have referred to it as the one-second test.

Prof. Eli Schwartz is man with many hats; 

he is the founder of the Center of Geographic Medicine & Tropical Diseases at Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer (Israel)

Full Professor (clinical) at Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University

Head of the Molecular Lab. for Tropical Diseases at Sheba Medical Ctr..

The President of the Israeli society of Parasitology, & Tropical   diseases

He published several books and more than 250 articles and chapters in the medical literature on travel and tropical diseases

Corona activities:

Consultant physician for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Head of the task-team for evaluating therapeutic options for COVID-19

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

We're joined now on Pacific Breakfast by Paige Faigaa, for the latest updates from our PMN Newsroom on Pacific Breakfast. 

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

We’re joined now on Pacific Breakfast by PMN News columnist Moana Leilua from Melbourne, Victoria for a COVID-19 update.

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

Leo Foliaki, Snr Partner with PwC (Price, Waterhouse Coopers) joins us on Pacific Breakfast to look at the economic impacts of COVID-19 in N.Z. & around the Pacific.

Photo: PwC NZ

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.

We’re joined now on Pacific Breakfast by Stephen Lyon, head of the Pacific Islands Private Sector Organisation, PIPSO, based in Rarotonga for an overview of the Forum Economic Ministers Meeting (FEMM), which was held from 11-12 August 2020.

See omnystudio.com/policies/listener for privacy information.