Tetanus vaccination spreads

 FEMALE employees of ATprojects have received their tetanus toxoid (TT) vaccination shots under the nationwide immunisation programme that has now reached Eastern Highlands. 

ATprojects, a social enterprise organisation based at Nagamisa, a 30-minute drive from Goroka town, was visited on Wednesday morning by the outreach immunisation programme staff who vaccinated young women and mothers with children under five years living in the surrounding villages. 

This is the third round of tetanus toxoid vaccination for every mother the Health Department is conducting under the maternal and child health (MCH) vaccination programme.

The programme, which runs from June 17 to July 26, is supported by the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United Nations Children’s Fund. 

Tetanus, measles, polio and other vaccines will be delivered simultaneously with other maternal and child health services

Nursing sister and Community Home-Based Care (CHBC) field supervisor Josephine Andreas, who works for ATprojects in its community health programme, said she was happy that many of the female staff at ATprojects turned up to receive their vaccination. 

“Tetanus is easily preventable with a vaccine administered to the mother,” she said. 

“Tetanus is transmitted when children are born in unhygienic conditions, and non-sterile materials are used to cut the umbilical cord.”

“At that point, the mother’s life is in danger and may lead to death of the newborn as early as from the third to eighth day after birth”