Nurses work on public holiday to get kids protected

THE vaccination of children under five against polio has intensified in the eight districts of Eastern Highlands.
Nursing officers have been busy, even yesterday, a public holiday.
Veteran Goroka nurse Johanne Haile said it was business as usual.
“We consider protecting lives of these children against polio is important so we are still at work,” she said.
Eastern Highlands acting provincial administrator Samson Akunai reiterated his earlier message to parents and guardians of children under five to take them to clinics.
He said health workers were working around the clock administering vaccines in the eight districts of Eastern Highlands.
Akunai thanked partners World Health Organisation, Unicef, National Department of Health and others who supported the fight against polio in the province.
He commended the emergency operating centre (EOC) established at Goroka Provincial Hospital to monitor the progress of the campaign and vaccination.
Officers in the field are sending updated reports to EOC to monitor progress and identify needs and mobilise support.
WHO team coordinator – outbreaks and health emergencies – Dr Zhang Zaixing and provincial health authority chief executive Dr Joseph Apa signed an agreement on the new facility last week.