Tetanus kills mums, babies

 By ELIZABETH MIAE

POOR infrastructure and non-availability of workers in health facilities have hindered the routine immunisation of pregnant women against tetanus infections. 

Tetanus is a serious infection that causes painful muscular tightening and stiffness. It could lead to loss of breath and death especially among newborns.

It occurs in newborn infants when the umbilical cord is cut with unsterile cutting instrument or when the end of cord becomes contaminated because of unsterile dressing. 

According to the Department of Health and United Nations Children’s Fund, it is one of the three main reasons why maternal and neonatal tetanus is yet to be eliminated in Papua New Guinea.

A joint report by the organisation states that nationwide only 40% of the deliveries are conducted at health facilities indicating that traditional habits related to unclean deliveries are difficult to change. 

Neonatal tetanus surveillance is not sensitive and most cases go unreported in absence of community-based surveillance and investigation. 

“Coverage of tetanus toxoid in routine immunisation shows that most, if not all districts in 20 out 22, provinces achieved coverage of less than 50%.”

NCD was among the districts that had less than 50% coverage of the immunisation.

World Health Organisation technical officer Dr Siddhartha Sankar Datta said in NCD’s case, not all women accessed the services available. 

He said data and monitoring needed to be strengthened. 

He was speaking at a media briefing on the TT campaign in Port Moresby last Thursday. 

The department in partnership with UNICEF and WHO will conduct round three of the TT immunisation campaign from June 17 to July 26 nationwide.

The goal of the campaign is to heighten the prevention of tetanus infection in newborn babies through the mother who will be protected from tetanus.