Health declares war on measles

By DULCIE OREKE
THE Health Department has launched a nationwide campaign to eliminate measles.
About 800,000 children will be given measles polio vaccine, vitamin A and Albedazole tablets.
In addition, 1.8 million girls and women will be protected against the tetanus toxoid during the campaign.
The objective of the campaign is to vaccinate all children under three years of age.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Jamie Maxtone-Graham, who officiated at the launch of the awareness campaign in Port Moresby yesterday, said the tetanus toxoid vaccine would be given to all females between 15 to 45 years to protect them from tetanus.
He urged those above 15 years and women of childbearing age, including pregnant women, to go to health centres to get their tetanus vaccines.
The campaign, which runs from April 2 to May 15, will take place in all health facilities.
While acknowledging financial and technical support from the World Health Organisation, Unicef and AusAID, Maxtone-Graham urged parents and caregivers to take their children to health facilities and mobile supplementary immunised activity clinics to get immunised. 
Maxtone-Graham said the campaign cost up to K200,000 but he would “make sure” to raise the amount to K2 million.
It was the first time for Employers Federation Papua New Guinea to part take in the campaign. Federation executive director Florence Willie said she would inform employers to release their female staff from their duties to be vaccinated.
Maxtone-Graham said he wanted workers in the department to talk about nutrition.
“A healthy country can become a wealthy country,” he said.