More facilities to store vaccines seen as crucial

ONLY one immunisation vaccine storage facility exists, located in Badili Port Moresby, which is not enough to efficiently carry out vaccination coverage, says health department official during immunisation launch of the Routine Immunisation Toolkit on Monday.
The occasion saw discussions on how the number of immunisation and statistics in PNG can improve based on better advocacy and awareness.
Health Department’s national manager for Expanded Program on Immunisation Martha Pogo said they are planning and pushing for one more storage unit to be built in either Mount Hagen or Lae.
Pago said there is only one store at Badili.
Highlands provinces, including Morobe and Madang, are excessed by road.
“We are planning for them to have one, placed somewhere in a province that’s a centre point so that we move in bulk and they get from there, so that’s in the plan and we are working on concept paper two for approval.
“This will enable efficient immunisation coverage in that part of the region of PNG, so we are planning to establish one in Mt Hagen.”
Department secretary Dr Osbourne Liko said the medical board has to approve it and funds have to be made available, and then it should be in Lae or Hagen.
“I can’t say when exactly this will happen, because it now depends on whenever funding is available to us realistically to move and approve this particular project.”