Measles outbreak claims 6

 By JAMES APA GUMUNO 

A MEASLES outbreak in the Nete region on the border of Enga and East Sepik has claimed six lives in two villages. 

The deaths occurred in Malaumanda and Anamanda villages on January 18.

It is believed that the number could be higher after villagers reported to the New Tribe Mission located at Malaumanda. Moses Mondowa, the chairman of Malaumanda Landowner Association, said the measles outbreak began at Hewa bordering Hela, Enga and West Sepik and spread to Nete. 

Mondowa from Malaumanda village said that on January 18, four children from Anamanda and two from his village died of measles. 

“There are other villages like Lodon, Onge, Kasakali, Takop, Hulipa, Yaipo, Bake, Nai, Onon, Limbia, and Menagus and we do not know how many children are dying,” he said. 

He said the only aid post located in his village had no health worker.

He said the association renovated the aid post recently but no health worker had been posted there by the Enga or East Sepik provincial governments.

About 7000 people live in the area.

He said on Tuesday,  he sent newly-graduated community health worker Roslyn Pakin with some medical supplies to Malaumanda.

“I talked to Enga provincial health adviser Aaron Luai and he assured me that they will send five health workers to carry out a mass immunisation programme,” he said.