Vaccines and immunisation

WITH so much misconception on vaccines and immunisation in PNG and around the world today, it is in everyone’s best interest to ensure continued participation by partners in public health is maintained at all times.
This means, keeping everybody’s common interest is paramount, and if the Health department is advocating for “health as everybody’s business” it is every health worker’s duty to ensure that non-government organisations (NGOs), statutory organisations, education and schools, churches, community groups, LLGs, district administrations, the media, women, children and volunteers need for shared information is addressed well at all times.
Health workers, whether nurses, doctors or other category of health care workers, who are tasked to act in positions as custodians of public information must ensure information is freely made available where this is needed by all partners, otherwise there is no point in continued partnership.
With the current polio mass immunisation programme in PNG and the “recently introduced” mass measles and rubella immunisation to piggyback this programme, success rests on the Health Department’s ability to maintain interest among all partners.
Otherwise we have our own issues and unanswered questions on why the extra supplementary immunisation activities when every child born into the world already has a scheduled immunisation programme in place in all countries and regions of the world.
If a country’s immunisation coverage falls short of the required percentage, than someone did not do their job at the national level, and which delivery system is the most likely area to look to than the expanded programme on immunisation system?
NGOs, churches, community leaders, the Education Department, schools, mothers, children and volunteers have a right to question our invaluable voluntary participation with public health campaigns each time we are approached, yet when we need information from the Health Department, we are being denied.
The recent controversies in Samoa regarding the deaths of two children soon after being immunised for measles and rubella must be a stepping stone for health workers in PNG to maintain sound relationship with partners.
You cannot fight a disease on your own.
Partners must now begin to question the Health Department and it’s advocators on why we must continue to support their campaigns and why feed them with free information when they are not able to share information with us.

Partner