Extra immunisation programme launched to contain outbreak

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC and JUNIOR UKAHA
THE supplementary immunisation programme for Morobe, Madang and Eastern Highlands was launched yesterday in Lae.
Attending the launch were Minister for Health Sir Puka Temu, Secretary Pascoe Kase, Morobe Governor Ginson Saonu, administrator Bart Ipambonj, programme adviser for health Dr Micah Yawing, representative of World Health Organisation in PNG Dr Luo Dapeng, deputy representative of Unicef Judith Bruno and other respective health dignitaries.
“Partnerships are important because that is the only way we can address many development issues,” Sir Puka said.
“In this case, we are focusing on working together to make sure our children are protected from polio.
“This exercise requires everyone to work together.
“This is an outbreak.
“We have a 12-month programme to manage the outbreak.
“We need to go back to our effective routine immunisation and make sure to follow through.
“This is an outbreak that we are able to contain.
“We are able to cover everybody, and to achieve the official polio-free certification again.
“Polio has not spread and we have to maintain that.”
The first polio case was reported in Lae in April after a child at 4-Mile area was tested positive with the virus.
“The Government, through a National Executive Council decision, has committed K6million to support the Global Fund which allocated US$500,000 to fight polio,” Sir Puka said.
“Six hundred thousand dosages of vaccines from Unicef have arrived and I am here to launch it.
“I can assure the nation that we are on top of it. The target in Morobe is over 108,000 children.”
Sir Puka called on every mother in Morobe, Eastern Highlands and Madang to bring their children for oral polio vaccinations.
“Please bring every child to a nearest site for vaccination,” he said.
“We have the vaccines, we have the team ready, and we want all the mothers to bring their children for vaccination.
“The World Health Organisation says if we immunise eight out of 10 children, our communities will always be protected against vaccinatable diseases.
“When we fall below 80 per cent, we will always have outbreaks like what we have here.”