Prevention of diseases is important, says Maru

THE objective of the Vision 2050 is for Papua New Guinea to be healthy, wealthy and wise thus the prevention of diseases is important, Minister for National Planning and Monitoring Richard Maru says.
Maru said: “In planning we plan for the nation and one of the key areas we plan for is health.”
He said they looked at the health indicators, the quantity and quality of the health workforce, the population and the current disease trend in the country.
“In our own way we also try to intervene to help the ministry and department of health to attend to a lot of the needy areas of health services.” The immunisation coverage in the country was low for the last 20 years which he said troublesome.
He said after dialogues with the former health minister Sir Puka Temu, immunisation has become the Health Department’s priority.
“I am happy they made this year the year of immunisation.
“We do not want to focus on treating patients only but prevention as well.”