Oil Search Foundation is facilitating the acceleration of immunisation programs in earthquake affected villages, supporting an Oil Search Limited-wide focus to rebuild and protect communities after the 26 February earthquake.
Last week health and community affairs teams travelled to communities in the Bosavi and Kutubu areas, immunising over 500 children and providing critical mobile health services to those devastated by the earthquake.
The mobile clinics are part of Oil Search’s earthquake recovery plan that aims to reduce the risk of disease outbreaks, such as whooping cough, measles and diarrhoea. The clinics also provide essential support services to individuals who have lost their homes and are currently living in care centres for displaced families.
“We want to ensure that at least eighty percent of children under the age of one in our operating area have been vaccinated” said Apa Parunga, Oil Search Foundation Program Supervisor. “At the same time we will review all children under five and provide ‘catch-up’ vaccinations and assess for any abnormal medical or nutritional issues we find.
“Conditions like malnutrition or outbreaks of diarrhoea will be reported to our Government counterparts to ensure appropriate action can be taken.”
The team also conducted antenatal clinics for pregnant mothers and provided information on family planning and water safety.
Oil Search will continue to deliver its combined program over the next few weeks.
Dr Joseph Birisi, the Chief Executive Officer of the Southern Highlands Provincial Health Authority, said: “We welcome the support of Oil Search in our recovery efforts and I encourage all parents to bring their children to be immunised.”
(Oil Search Public Health Officer Anna Jack getting injections ready for the children's immunisation)
