Menyamya people are stubborn, says Yawing

THE people of Menyamya are not willing to adapt methods of personal hygiene, the task force coordinator of the swine dysentery and flu outbreak said.
Morobe deputy programme adviser for Health Micah Yawing brought this to the attention of the Morobe outbreak task force at a briefing on Monday.
He described the people as stubborn.
Mr Yawing said further outbreaks could occur if their attitudes towards achieving healthy lives were not changed.
He said the amount of information for awareness being distributed in Menyamya was of no use as the people were stubborn and did not respond well with written material.
Mr Yawing returned to Lae after spending August and September in Menyamya trying to contain the outbreak of swine dysentery and flu.
He said the better approach would be to speak to the people individually and demonstrate clean and safe habits.
Currently, the PNGDF is engaged in conducting awareness programmes in the affected areas of Lae, Menyamya and Wasu and awaiting notice to provide technical assistance when the task force proceeds into the second phase of preventing future outbreak.
Mr Yawing also suggested that the health centre in Menyamya be shut down as the standard of the facility was very low.
He said to address the root cause of the outbreak and strengthen the existing health system were two issues that they needed to address if they were to avoid further outbreaks and to deliver effective health services.