False info confusing locals

MISINFORMATION and anti-vaccination messages have left villagers in Chimbu confused and unwilling to get vaccinated against the Coronavirus (Covid-19) or allow their children to be immunised, a health official says.
Simbu health authority (PHA) chief executive officer Dr Francis Wandi said people in remote north Chimbu and the upper Bundi area of Madang, which is experiencing a measles outbreak, were hesitant about getting the Covid-19 vaccines or have their children immunised.
“When my health workers went to the village bringing injections to immunise babies for polio, measles and other diseases, people thought they were bringing vaccines to Covid-19 and stopped their children from getting immunised,” he said.
Dr Wandi said as a result, there was a measles outbreak in Mondia Pass in Gembogl, Chimbu, and upper Bundi in Madang.
He said a medical team would be deployed into the area to confirm the extent of the outbreak.
Dr Wandi will lead a team from the PHA management to all six districts of Chimbu conducting awareness to inform the people that the Covid-19 vaccines were available in the district health centres while health workers would visit communities to immunise babies.
Dr Wandi made this known at Kuglbal market in Kerowagi on Tuesday.
He said the PHA team would conduct awareness in the six districts over the next six weeks starting in Kerowagi this week.
PHA director for curative services, Dr Raymond Saulep, explained to the people the importance of practising the “new normal” and getting vaccinated to protect themselves against the Covid-19.
He answered questions from the public and added that the decision to get vaccinated laid entirely with each individuals.
Kerowagi officer Steven Gene and his staff gathered the people and helped facilitate the awareness. Gene said the awareness would also be conducted at Kerowagi station and Dux market along the Highlands Highway today.