Enforcement of Nuipla Pasin’ in Public Service
CIRCULAR NO:10/2021
To:
- All departmental heads
- All 13x District Co-ordinators
- All Public Servants
-General Public
SUBJECT: ENFORCEMENT OF 'NIUPLA PASIN' IN PUBLIC SERVICE
This circular instruction serves to advise all Departments, 13x District Administrations, public servants, development partners, all key stakeholders, and general public on the scale down of public service operations as a response to the surge in Covid-19 cases within Bougainville.
In support of the Bougainville Public Health Measures 02/2021 issued by Secretary Health dated 26th February 2021. I hereby direct that the following 'Niupla Pasin' protocols be adhered and complied with in the Public Service:
1. The 'No Mask' 'No Entry' practice be strictly adhered to by both public servants and clients visiting respective Departments Offices;
2. All clients be encouraged to use electronic, virtual and mobile or telephone communication to limit face to face interactions with respective department staff;
3. Close consultations be maintained by departments with respective landlords of any rented or lease building on the 'Niupla Pasin' enforcement measures;
4. Job rotation staff through a weekly roster be managed by departmental heads and directors to ensure not more than 5 personnel are deployed in each department or directorate offices to allow adequate social distancing of 1 metre- 2 metres practices at the work place;
5. Social distancing face masks, Covid-19 awareness materials and hand washing facilities or resources be made available in all departments organised meetings workshops, seminars, or events that should be limited to between 10-15 persons;
6. The number of participants in any department organised meetings, workshops, seminars or events be restricted to between 10-15 persons with consideration of basic Covid-19 preventive measures;
7. Flexibility in staff attendance be considered without compromising a performance oriented and result driven public service;
8. Limit the number of duty travels outside Bougainville in a month to only one (1) physical contacts with mainland PNG counterparts and explore the use of electronic, virtual, telephone or mobile phone communications;
9. The number of persons listed in department duty travels be restricted to between 3-5 travellers and must be cleared with a negative Covid-19 geneXpert or Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test result as part of travel requirements;
10. Adequate hand washing facilities and resources be made available through respective recurrent budget expenditures for both staff and clients to use;
11. In house Covid-19 public health measures training and awareness be organised in partnership with Bougainville Department of Health;
12. All public servants are encouraged to volunteer in support of the Covid-19 Response Team to advocate the health measures such as wearing of face mask/shields, social distancing, use of hand washing facilities/resources, and distribution of awareness materials;
13. Any engagement of public servants in Covid-19 Response Program is part of normal duties and no additional allowances be paid for such community service obligations;
14. Public servants and persons under contact tracing who tested positive for Covid-19 are encouraged to comply with quarantine and public health measures issued by the Secretary Health,and are hereby given 14 days mandatory sick leave from work;
15. In the event the concerned public servants needs more time under quarantine and treatment, he or she must liaise with respective departmental head;
16. All departments are encouraged to support the food donation initiative led by the Bougainville Department of Health to feed households with confirmed Covid-19 cases;
17. Stigma and discrimination is against the code of conduct and all public servants are encouraged to advocate support for families with Covid-19 cases;
18. Regular disinfection of department buildings, vehicles, and government assets must be conducted in partnership between the Covid-19 Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team and respective departments;
19. All schools and educational institutions are encouraged to comply with public health measures as enforced by the Bougainville Education Board.
Any reported failure to comply with the above public health measures as affirmed by Office of Chief Secretary, will result in concerned departmental head or public servant put on notice with appropriate disciplinary actions undertaken if similar breaches persists.
The above Covid-19 containment measures will be reviewed by my office based on the advice by the Secretary Health.
Your united effort and cooperation is highly anticipated.
Yours sincerely,
SHADRACH HIMATA
Acting Chief Secretary
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