immunization

The integrated health program included children’s immunisation, treating of yaws (a chronic disfiguring and debilitating infectious disease) cases, health education, antenatal checks and school medical in the disadvantage communities at Aiome. 

874 children were immunised against vaccine preventable diseases, treated 470 cases of yaws, conducted health education to more than 900 people in the area and also treated 250 skin infections.

Surprisingly 214 children out of the 874 children immunised received immunisation for the first time during this outreach program.  

This comes at the back of a two-day refresher training of 26 healthcare workers from the 21 healthcare facilities in the province to build their capacity around the MR-bOPV Vitamin “A” SIA campaign.  

Gulf Province is the last province to launch its SIA campaign. Speaking to the healthcare workers at the launching, GPHA's acting chief executive officer, Dr. Alexander Maha acknowledged his hardworking team for ensuring the activity was finally launched and ready for implementation despite challenges. 

This week, health workers comprising of 10 teams under the Rabaul Provincial Hospital (RPH), Gelagela Health Centre and Rabaul town urban clinic, are now wrapping up the immunization program which kicked off in May.

District Health Coordinator, Garry Mano said according to schedule, this week will cover mop-up which includes verification of data collected during the first two weeks of the rollout.

In addition, children between 6 months and five years will receive Vitamin A to boost their immunity and prevent diseases and blindness.

This is a critical and timely intervention by the National Department of Health, as Papua New Guinea (PNG) faces a high risk of disease outbreak due to low immunization coverage across the country.

It is commendable that the government is taking proactive steps to protect children from deadly and debilitating vaccine-preventable diseases.