Churches’ support will give NCD efforts a shot in the arm

THE roll-out of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination programme in the National Capital District (NCD) will be boosted with the support of churches, an official says.
At a press conference yesterday to announce the partnership of the NCD Commission and the Papua New Guinea Council of Churches (PNGCC), Governor Powes Parkop said the hospital system in the city had been stretched and stressed that vaccination should be promoted to prevent surges.
Representatives from different denominations were briefed on the Covid-19 situation in the country and NCD by the National Pandemic Deputy Controller Dr Daoni Esorom, Port Moresby General Hospital director of medical services Dr Kone Sobi, NCD health authority chief executive officer Dr Steven Yennie and St John Ambulance chief executive officer Matt Cannon.
Parkop thanked the PNGCC, including the Body of Christ churches, to step forward and partner NCDC to run the vaccination programme.
“Vaccination is voluntary and not mandatory, according to the Government,” he said.
“We are not forcing you to get the vaccine but encouraging you to get it.
“At this time, getting the vaccine is the right thing to do.”
PNGCC general secretary Rev Joseph Rogers said a theological handbook was developed to guide the churches in the Covid-19 awareness message which the churches had been using in their work with the National Control Centre and development partners such as the World Health Organisation and Unicef.
He said misinformation was a big concern in fighting the pandemic and the sources of the misinformation were doctors, nurses and technical people in the know, the internet or social media and the churches.
Rev Rogers said the churches were working together to dispel the misinformation through sharing from the Bible about what God says about loving others.
He said there had been positive responses from the church-facilitated awareness programmes, including the vaccination of 500 people from Gabagaba village.
“We share the Bible message of obedience and love,” Rev Rogers.
“If we want to choose life, be obedient.”
He said the churches were looking forward to working with NCDC in rolling out the vaccination programmes in the community.