COVID-19

The booklet, funded by the Australian Government and OK Tedi Mining Ltd, was created by the Melanesian Foundation through the consultation of Professor Glen Mola, PNG’s Institute of Medical Research, medical professionals and tertiary institutions throughout the country.

High Commissioner Philip described the booklet as necessary, to fight the false information on Covid-19 that is misleading many Papua New Guineans.

This week Deloitte PNG presented a cheque of K71,000 to the St John Ambulance in Port Moresby.

The amount was raised through a fundraising drive organized by Deloitte colleagues and friends.

“I am pleased to note that the money raised will go a long way to supporting PNG’s emergency services for both COVID-19 and long-term health care in PNG. Deloitte will continue to do its best to contribute to ensuring a healthy future for PNG,” said Benjamin Lee, Managing Partner for Deloitte PNG.

This is to combat misinformation and misconception on these issues.

The discussion was attended by church leaders in Port Moresby, representatives from the PNG Council of Churches (PNGCoC), the World Health Organisation (WHO), UNICEF and the Ministry of Health.

General Secretary of the PNGCoC, Reverend Roger Joseph, said the focus of the meeting was for church leaders to listen to technical messages about COVID-19 and the vaccine and to iron out any misconceptions that they may have.

This comes after a discussion with the Chairman of the Motu Koita Assembly, Dadi Toka Junior and NZ High Commission to push forward the initiative.

The New Zealand High Commissioner to PNG, Philip Taula also presented Motu version of printed COVID-19 brochures and posters that will be disseminated to the villages to keep them informed and protect themselves from COVID-19.

The National Capital District Commission administration has taken the lead with the front line health workers and the NCDC PHA is right behind them.

“Team NCDC to be vaccinated with the manager for Corporate services and the project manager, health manager, everybody is there. So thank you I was one of those to be vaccinated, I didn’t fall down dead so you don’t get scared because governor and city manager and chair and everybody we were all vaccinated.”

Permanent Secretary for Health, Dr James Fong said all of the cases are from Makoi outside Suva.

They are close contacts of the woman who presented to the Makoi Health Centre yesterday with COVID symptoms.

“Four of our positive patients are her household members, seven are from an adjoining home, and one is a secondary contact. All have been entered into isolation.

Dr Fong said 2217 tests were conducted yesterday.

This diagnostic testing gives a result in 15 minutes, can be used in a wide variety of non-laboratory settings and does not require any special or additional instruments. This is why more cases have been identified in a short space of time.

The Morobe Provincial Health Authority’s disease surveillance and rapid response team said the total reported cases for March was 321 while April was 594.

“That is 273 cases more in April than in March,” stated the team.

The police and other agencies can only do their best in enforcing the COVID-19 measures.

At the end of the day, an individual is responsible for his or her own health.

Lae metropolitan superintendent, Chris Kunyanban, said police have been conducting COVID-19 awareness whenever they can but generally, people are not masking up when they are in public spaces.

“The challenge they are facing is that, a lot of people are very ignorant,” he stated. “That’s one of the challenge that we are facing in assisting the Health Department to do a bit of awareness.

In a statement, UN Papua New Guinea said right now, people all over the world are united by a common choice – whether they will take the COVID-19 vaccine when it is offered to them.

They are making this decision based on the information available to them – What they hear or read in the media, and the experiences of those around them.

The latter can be the most influential of all.

According to the UN, it is critical in the making of an informed decision for the health and wellbeing of communities; that people in PNG rely on accurate information on the vaccine.

The delivery included items such as face shields, masks, gloves, and coveralls.

 Morobe Provincial Health Authority Chairman David Wissink while thanking Newcrest and Harmony for their continued support to the province said the critical supplies will help keep health workers and people safe.

Bernard Kavanamur, Harmony General Manager, Resource Development & Corporate Affairs, reinforced the miners’ commitment to assisting PNG in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic said they are pleased to have provided the assistance.