Childhood vaccines destroyed in aircraft fire

THE aircraft burnt at the Mendi airport last month was carrying 13,200 doses of vaccines and 12,000 syringes for the childhood vaccination programme, says Emergency Controller Dr Bill Hamblin.
The United Nations Children Fund (Unicef) is currently trying to have the replacements brought from overseas as they are not available here.
The vaccines and syringes were procured by Unicef through Government funding and were being transported through Mendi to
Hela for the immunisation programme.
“I want the people involved in destroying these vital relief supplies and warehouses arrested, charged and face the full force of the law. They cannot go unpunished,” he said.
Hamblin said the 13,200 doses of vaccines and 12,000 syringes were still inside the plane when it was set on fire.
“People involved in those acts do not belong in society,” he said.
“They need to be locked behind bars.
“I hope some of them will be arrested soon in the state of emergency call-out operations,” he said.
Hamblin said people were still affected and needed help.
“The Government, partners and countries around the region supported us and we are really thankful and without them many people would have died,” he said.