SHP back fighting to knock out polio

THE fourth round of polio vaccinations in Southern highlands is expected to start today.
Provincial Health Authority and officials from Unicef visited the province and talked to councillors, church pastors, teachers and community leaders about the importance of the immunisation programme.
According to health authorities and the donor partners, they target to vaccinate 247,000 children under 15-years-old.
Public Health Services director George Epei said the province had one confirmed case from Yaria village in Lower Mendi because the child did not receive any polio vaccination.
“Let’s maintain it as one by ensuring all our children are immunized in this round regardless of whether they have received doses previously,” he said.
He said multiple vaccinations provides continuous protection.
He urged parents to bring their kids forward for another round of polio vaccinations.
PNG health authorities have confirmed the outbreak of polio in July last year after 18 years and started the vaccination campaign.
The vaccination campaign was officially launched on July 16 in Morobe, Madang and Eastern Highlands provinces.
Three more campaigns took place in August, September and October.
On June 26 June, the government declared the circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus type 1 (cVDPV1) outbreak in Morobe and declared a national public health emergency.
The National Department of Health working with partners launched comprehensive response with the nationwide vaccination programme that is continuing.