UN backing PNG’s Covid-19 response

UNITED Nations agencies, including the World Health Organisation, are doing whatever they can to support PNG’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic, an official says.
UN resident coordinator Gianluca Rampolla said to support PNG’s efforts to prepare for and respond to the Covid-19, the UN had “maintained its full presence in the country and doing whatever in its ability to mobilise capacities and funding”.
“Since the Government activated emergency response measures, UN agencies have been assisting with medical, technical, strategic and operational support, and are delivering essential health supplies and services to bolster national and provincial response capacities,” he said.
WHO, which funds many health programmes in PNG, was yesterday told by United States President Donald Trump of the withdrawal of an annual $US500 million funding (K1.74 billion) to the organisation.
The US is the biggest contributor to WHO funding. It could not be confirmed yesterday whether the substantial decrease in funding would affect WHO’s health programmes in PNG.
Acting Health Secretary Dr Paison Dakulala said he would comment later on the matter.
Rampolla said the UN has imported and distributed an initial batch of personal protective equipment (PPEs) for PNG.
“A further shipment of 600,000 units of PPEs, 30 ventilators for hospitals around the country and two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) machines for the Institute for Medical Research Covid-19 testing laboratory in Goroka, are on their way to PNG,” he said.
He said 34 tents were being set up for screening and quarantining patients.
“Medical equipment and various laboratory consumables for isolation facilities, 10 mobile quarantine units, ambulances and additional PPEs are also being procured, while emergency water and sanitation interventions have been stepped up in 300 vulnerable communities.

“A national public health campaign promoting behaviours to prevent COVID-19 is being carried out across the country through print materials, radio and tv broadcasts, and community outreach activities.”

Tracking systems installed for ships

By SAMUEL BARIASI
SHIPS entering PNG waters illegally during the State of Emergency may face fines of up to K500,000, according to Controller David Manning.
He issued the warning yesterday after the launching of a long-range identification tracking system and an automatic identification system to track PNG-registered vessels and foreign ships in PNG waters.
He said fines for individuals would be as high as K50,000 and K500,000 for companies. Both may also face life imprisonment terms.
Manning said all ships would be monitored on the new tracking systems. Transport Minister William Samb said the department and the National Maritime Safety Authority had been tracking international and local vessels during the past 12 months.
“We are bringing the two systems (to the national security emergency response taskforce) because we want the support the emergency controller (David Manning) and our team to ensure that the 14-day self-quarantine order is followed by crews on the vessels,” Samb said.
He said vessels which had already breached the orders would be reported to Manning.
Prime Minister James Marape also issued a warning to ships entering the country illegally.
“Every ship must be accounted for and we will confront and sink any illegal ship,” he said.
Ships have been told that the authorised ports of entry are Port Moresby, Lae, Madang and Rabaul. And there is no contact with crew members when they reach the ports.
“(Crew members) remain on their ships, our unloaders remain on the wharves, and the machines do the unloading. There’s no actual crossover,” he said.

Manning warns public service vehicle owners, operators to follow rules

By REBECCA KUKU
OPERATORS of public service vehicles breaching State of Emergency orders will be fined, jailed and have their licences revoked, says Controller David Manning.
Manning, also the police commissioner, said the orders were to stop the spread of Covid-19.
“Our ignorance of these orders will most likely be our downfall,” he said.
He called “disgusting and irresponsible” the attitude of some owners and operators.
He said more effort would be put into relaying the message to avoid creating an environment where Covid-19 could establish itself and spread.
“Deliberate disregard of the orders is a sure way of spreading Covid-19,” he said.
Manning warned he would stop the operation of public service vehicles if the drivers and owners did not change their attitude.
On domestic air travel, Manning said they were still working out a responsible way of delivering that service.
“It is a much-needed service but we need to (work out) how we can do it as safely as possible. We are consulting daily with Government officials and regulators of air traveling. Airlines also have to come up with how they can help to avoid the risks (of spreading Covid-19). A lot of the solutions that contribute to allowing that service fall in the economy space as well,” he said.

Temporary lifting of travel ban to border areas

By GYNNIE KERO
STATE of Emergency Controller David Manning says there will be a temporary lifting of domestic flight restrictions to allow people from the border provinces to return home.
Manning told The National this yesterday in response to questions on whether the resumption of domestic flights would also apply to East Sepik, West Sepik and Western.
He said flights to the border provinces would be temporarily lifted when the health department gave the green light.
“Until we reach a position where we can respond appropriately to an outbreak in these three border provinces, the three ports will continue to be for freights and essential services only,” he said.
“There will be a temporary uplift of that restriction to allow residents from those areas to return but we will not be lifting anyone out of those provinces. Of course they will be subject to checks before they board the aircraft.”
Manning had issued 11 orders to assist the containment of the Covid-19.
Among the directives was the ban on domestic travel to border provinces except those authorised in writing by Manning or in possession of a travel pass issued by the National Operations Centre.
All flights to and from approved airports will have to meet requirements where personal hygiene and social distancing are practised, passengers having a valid reason to travel and completing a travel approval form.

Market opening cancelled because of rule breach

By KARO JESSE
THE opening of a new market in Port Moresby yesterday had to be cancelled because the people had breached State of Emergency orders on public gatherings and social distancing.
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop who was to have opened the fresh food market at Erima Wildlife told the people of the Port Moresby North East electorate that they were breaking the state of emergency rules.
“It’s not easy to stop people from moving around. I know that people are affected by the (orders). (But) we must understand that the state of emergency is a very powerful law Parliament (approves) for (special) circumstances,” he said.
“There are more than a hundred people here. I won’t open the market today (yesterday). I will come back when you people are ready to follow rules.”
Moresby North East MP John Kaupa was also at the cancelled event yesterday.