UNICEF

Immunization Campaign set for May

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.

Water system for Pari school

The water system was jointly opened by the sponsors; that is the UNICEF, AusAID and the implementers the ANIS Foundation, witnessed by the National Department of Education.

After almost 24 years of the existence of Pari Elementary school and 19 years without running water, the school finally celebrated running water within its premises, on World Water Day. 

World Water Day is observed on March 22nd each year in many countries around the world including PNG

Instructor Training delivers ‘Health’ and ‘Wash’ curriculum

Representatives from Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tahiti, and the Kiribati Islands, attended and also witnessed the launch of the 2023 program.

The training focus was on the Health and Wash curriculum, aimed at improving the knowledge and behaviors of children regarding nutrition, physical activity, safe water, and hygiene, including hand washing.

Gulf health workers complete training

Many travelled in from very remote areas to get a better understanding of how to communicate to their communities about the vaccine.

Gulf PHA Incidental Manager, Sandra Yamuwe, says: “This training is very important because the COVID-19 vaccination update in Gulf PHA is very low. Also with the National General Elections currently happening, it’s important that all our health workers are trained to cater for any surges of COVID-19.”

UNICEF concern for children

“Children involved in political rallies are vulnerable to violence, road accidents and unhealthy behaviour, such as the use of alcohol,” said Dr. Claudes Kamenga, UNICEF Representative, Papua New Guinea.  
 
“UNICEF calls upon politicians as well as parents and caregivers to ensure that no child is exposed to unnecessary harm and that the political campaign is conducted respecting the rights of children.”   
 

Students speak on Cyber-Safety

Equal Playing Field CEO Jacquelyn Joseph said it was amazing the feedback students gave during the competition, and with their insights on cyber-safety and bullying, it was found to be very wise and informative in their young age

Young Pauline Tamasale a student from Ward Strip said she was inspired by her teacher Mr Obe Mandi who taught her and her fellow school mates on how cyber bullying affects the young generation that are either online with or without parents consent or knowledge.

Students Launch Cyber-Safety Video

The videos launch was to inform the organisation’s partners and stakeholders on the use of these videos and for public access on their social media platforms.

Ms. Joseph said the event was about three videos that they launched on Cyber-safety.

“What’s amazing about them is that we’ve had kids especially between the ages of 12 and 16 who have taken part in creating these videos. Why this connects to the work EPF does is that we are really concerned about the protection of children, not just physically but online as well,” said Ms. Joseph.

UNICEF Introduces U-REPORT

The U-REPORT was presented at a recent Regional Youth Conference, through the U-Report, UNICEF is looking to grasp the expansion of mobile phones in PNG to empower young people to speak out on issues that matter to them and encourage citizen-led development and create positive change.

The world has been taken over by a digital technology where mobile phones are rapidly expanding and in a country like PNG this provides a greater opportunity for people to connect with each other, and for young people in particular to be more engaged in the decisions and processes that affect them.

UNICEF supports roll out vaccines against infectious diseases and cervical cancer for Pacific children

 

The deployment of the three vaccines is part of the US$29.7 million System Strengthening for Effective Coverage of New Vaccines in the Pacific Project, which is supporting the introduction of these vaccines in Samoa, Tonga, Tuvalu, and Vanuatu.

Financed by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), the vaccine project was originally established to support the procurement of rotavirus, pneumococcal conjugate, and human papilloma virus vaccines through the United Nations Children's Fund.

UNICEF welcomes Japan’s contribution

The US$5.0 million is to help strengthen the capacity of vaccine cold chain logistics in support of the country’s COVID-19 response efforts.

Provincial health authorities and health facilities in 17 provinces in the country will benefit from this contribution that will help support vital cold chain logistics required to safely store and provide COVID-19 vaccines and also support the routine immunization program.

This will help prevent the stock out of essential vaccines for children in the country.

Specifically, the funding will contribute to: