Children vaccinated in Moresby

 MORE than 300 children in Port Moresby settlements have been vaccinated in the past two months in an immunisation drive by World Vision and the National Capital District health division.

More than 600 were reached through the mother and child health outreach programme. Nearly 200 of them had to attend the clinic outreach programme because they were sick. 

The monthly immunisation programme began in April and conducted by World Vision’s Family Wellbeing Project assisted by the 6-Mile Clinic (NCD Health), 9-Mile Clinic (Hope World Wide) and Lawes Road Clinic (NCD Health). They provide health services to the project’s four target settlements of Ranuguri, Segani, 8-Mile (blocks 1-4) and Air Transport Squadron or ATS (Milne Bay, Eastern Highlands and Oro blocks).

“We want to complement the work of the Health Department to bring this vital service to our target sites to reach especially those that are facing financial challenges to access clinics for either family planning for mothers and vaccination for children,” FWBP manager Jeanette Selep said.

“Immunisation is only one component in this project due to the fact that one of the main causes of newborn, infant, child deaths is incomplete immunisation for children during the first year of life. 

“On the other hand, we want to be able to reach the less disadvantaged who aren’t able to access the nearest clinic or family planning service provider due financial reasons, cultural beliefs etc. 

“We also want educate mothers, guardians, caregivers and communities about family planning, the importance of breastfeeding in the first six months and hand washing as by far the most cost-effective and reliable approach to prevent infectious diseases such as diarrhoea that can affect children from birth to five years,” Selep said. 

According to Larsen Neayambe, World Vision’s health promotion officer, many mothers still do not prioritise their children’s health issues and can even ignore these situation for weeks until their children’s health worsen.

“Children are treated for diseases which are preventable and also avoidable if mothers and caregivers are serious about their children’s health. It is still important and necessary that we continue to educate and promote simple yet vital health practices in these communities,”Larsen said.