Get vaccinated, says academic

Hannah Joy Vele receiving a Johnson and Johnson Covid-19 vaccine shot administered by community health worker Andrew Fauma at the Vision City amphitheatre in Port Moresby. Vele said she decided to get vaccinated because of the workplace safety policy put in place by her employer, which required all employees to be vaccinated. Fauma said they received an influx of people wanting to be vaccinated. The numbers have increased from 100 per day to between 400-500 a day since last week. – Nationalpics by JOEL HAMARI

A UNIVERSITY lecturer is encouraging everyone at her institution, town and province to get vaccinated to be protected against the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
Rose Begani, an environmental health lecturer at the Divine Word University (DWU) in Madang said she was initially hesitant about getting vaccinated but after researching and learning more about the vaccines, she was able to make the decision to get the jab.
Begani said other vaccines developed over history had been highly effective in saving lives and eradicating preventable diseases such as polio, smallpox and tuberculosis.

**Shermina Joke receiving her first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine administered by NCDC PHA community health worker Norman Nasi at Stop and Shop, Central Waigani in Port Moresby recently.**

“I was informed by a fellow Australia awards alumni that a third wave of the Covid-19 was possible in PNG and that the entry of the much more transmissible Delta variant would be dangerous for non-vaccinated people,” she said.
Begani said her advocacy was not to force or tell people to get vaccinated but to explain the benefits and that it was always a personal choice. According to Australian awards, Begani has been encouraging families, friends and students to be vaccinated and had set an example as a woman leader and an academic.

National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning watching as Air Niugini employee Paila Leka receives a Covid-19 vaccination shot from NCD health services nurse Serah Ruy in Port Moresby last week. – Picture supplied

It said Begani was drawing on the leadership and teamwork skills she developed when completing a master’s (degree) in health at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with an Australia awards scholarship in 2009.
Those skills have seen her selected to serve on DWU’s Covid-19 awareness and education team.

**Depo ward councillor Billy Iwai getting a shot of the Covid-19 vaccine in Sogeri, Central, after a health awareness was carried out in the community. – Picture supplied**

Begani said the team spirit was uplifting and a great success in driving the key educational message on the Covid-19 and its prevention measures.
“The research training I participated in as an Australia awards scholar prepared me well for a leadership role in research at DWU,” she said.
“This has given me the edge to publish eight papers locally and internationally, both individually and in teams.”

**Ruby Ranggas receiving her first shot of the AstraZeneca vaccine administered by St John community health worker Gabriel Morea at Stop and Shop, Central Waigani in Port Moresby recently.**

Last year, Begani was the recipient of the DWU teaching excellence award.
The recognition reflected the experience she had as an Australia awards scholar in Australia.
In recognition of her achievements and leadership, Begani has been awarded another Australia awards scholarship for doctoral studies in environmental health at QUT this year.
Begnai said she was thrilled by the new opportunity to deepen her skills and knowledge and contribute more to the PNG-Australia partnership.
“Without the Australian government’s support through scholarships, I would not have come this far in my career.”