Employers in PNG can make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory

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Employers in PNG can make Covid-19 vaccination mandatory 

PORT MORESBY: The Papua New Guinea (PNG) Government says any employer who feels that the work place safety of its workers is being compromised may enforce the Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure safety.

Labour and Industrial Relations Minister Tomait Kapili said this in response to a move by the National Capital District Commission to take off the payroll any employee still unvaccinated by Nov 1, 2021.

Details of the news break and several updates on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) situation in PNG were published by The National:

Tough choice

October 14, 2021The NationalMain Stories

Before any body bag is moved, it has to be decontaminated and moved into the temporary morgue in Goroka, Eastern Highlands. – Picture supplied by the Eastern Highlands health authority

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE Government says that an employer who feels that the workplace safety of its workers is being comprised may enforce the Occupational Health and Safety Act to ensure their safety.
Minister for Labour and Industrial Relations Tomait Kapili was responding yesterday to a plan by the National Capital District Commission (NCDC) to take off the payroll any employee still unvaccinated by Nov 1.
The NCDC is allowing time-off to employees yet to receive the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine from today until the end of the month to get the jab.
Kapili told The National yesterday that the NCDC or any employer who considered that workplace safety was compromised “have the right to take a stand under the Occupational Health and Safety Act”.
But he said the Government position was that vaccination should not be compulsory.
“The NCDC knows the Government’s position which is that vaccination is not compulsory.
“The virus is here and the onus it is on individuals to be vaccinated,” he said.
According to the OHS legislation, Kapili said the employer reserved the right to ensure the safety of its workers if a safety risk existed.
“Under the OHS Act, the NCDC (may) exercise (its) right (to ensure its) employees are safe,” he said.
“The unvaccinated are a threat to other workers.
“The economy must (survive).
“Viruses, including the Covid-19 are here to stay. We have to find a way to manage it.”
Kapili said it would be best if the “employers and employee come to an understanding”.
“We (department) remind the employers to be mindful (as) they might be losing key personnel who contribute to the company,” he said.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop said the NCDC board would meet soon to discuss the plan outlined in an internal memo this week by City Manager Bernard Kipit.
The NCDC plan includes the wearing of coloured identification cards to indicate those who have been vaccinated.
Parkop said the plan – subject to board approval – was based on the OHS legislation.
“The city manager has to take all steps necessary to protect the welfare of the staff and to protect the commission so it functions with little hindrance,” Parkop said.
“As the municipal government or city authority, the commission must function to ensure essential municipal services continue as they are important to the city. Protecting employees against irresponsible (ones) is an important responsibility of the management and board.”

‘Hospital getting 20 bodies daily’

October 14, 2021The NationalNational

TWENTY Coronavirus (Covid-19) bodies are passed on to the Goroka Hospital mortuary each day, according to a morgue attendant.
“During the day, five to six dead bodies are brought in from the districts but, at night – midnight, 1am and 2am – 15-16 bodies are brought in every single day,” Jobby Naewa Quinn said.
“People hear and count deaths of prominent people in the province, but think of the many people in settlements, villages and communities dying in districts, there are too many deaths.
“If only we can practice the ‘New Normal’ and stay safe, this will be the only way we can stop the Covid-19 in Eastern Highlands, otherwise, during the day, the lowest (number of) bodies coming in would be five, but in the night, we are seeing 15 or 16 bodies coming in.”
Quinn said people were “just falling down like flies”.
“During nights, bodies are picked up at locations such as Kakaruk market, Masi village, Genoka Block,” he said.
“People shout at them telling them they are lying.
“Just come make your way to the hospital morgue site and see for yourself, you will know if it’s real, sick or a false sick – you will know.”
Quinn said many were saying that the Covid-19 deaths were for big people.
“Relatives and family members of these little people are not claiming their bodies and they are left there for too long,” he said.
“We are trying to see Governor Peter Numu to find land for mass burial of these unclaimed bodies.
“The morgue is full to the brim.
“We need a new morgue.”

Teachers return positive for Delta

October 14, 2021The NationalNational

GULF Governor Chris Haiveta has confirmed the presence of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Delta variant in his province.
He said two teachers had contracted the Covid-19.
“One of them teaches at a school in Kerema town and the other teaches in a school in Kikori (West Kerema),” he said.
Haiveta, who described the confirmed cases as a breakout, said yesterday the cases were reported in Kerema and villages in east and west Kerema.
“There is a breakout reported in Lese village (East Kerema) along the border of Central and Gulf, and in Kikori (West Kerema) along the border of Western and Gulf,” he said.
“We are now taking measures in contact-tracing and trying containment.”
Haiveta said the provincial health authority (PHA) was tasked to have a plan and had yet to show it to him.
“But I had discussion with the PHA chairman and he is buying personal protection equipment such as facemasks, and securing 4,000 vaccines in Port Moresby which will be brought to Gulf.”
He said they had plans to do awareness for the next seven days and were considering a 14-day lockdown of the provinces

Ten ‘high-risk’ provinces required to implement Covid-19 measures

October 14, 2021The NationalNational

TEN provinces have been classified as “high-risk”, requiring that they implement measures which suits them best to address the Coronavirus (Covid-19) surge.
They are Morobe, Chimbu, Enga, Hela, Jiwaka, Southern Highlands, Western, West Sepik, Western Highlands and Eastern Highlands.
National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning told The National that the 10 provinces would have to submit to his office what they wanted to implement.
“The high-risk provinces, in line with the measures released a few weeks ago, are to have their own measures to respond to the Covid-19,” he said. “The measures must be submitted to (my) office and to the National Control Centre (NCC) for their consideration.”
Manning said it meant strict travel requirements to the provinces.
“No person is to travel into and out of the provinces except those who are fully vaccinated, have a valid reason to travel, and have approval from the provincial administrator,” he said.
“In the case of the 10 provinces, an immediate ban is placed on all public gatherings.
“People may still go to shops and markets but they must be there only to shop, not to socialise or stay longer than required. They must comply with the ‘Niupla Pasin’ guidelines.”
He said religious gatherings must be limited to 50 people.
Nightclubs and pubs must be closed.
Recreational or professional sports are banned.

Mt Hagen to go into lockdown

October 14, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By ELIAS LARI
MOUNT Hagen will go into lockdown on Monday to try to contain the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) in the province, police say.
Death figures provided by authorities were nowhere near the number falling victims and the rapid spread of the killer virus in rural areas, according to villagers.
Western Highlands police commander Chief Insp Jacob Kamiak confirmed the lockdown yesterday and said announcements would be made today in a meeting with the provincial Covid-19 coordinating committee.
“Monday is the lockdown but every announcement will be made tomorrow (today),” Chief Insp Kamiak said.
Western Highlands health authority acting chief executive officer Jane Holden said there were a number of factors influencing the decision for lockdown.
Holden said Western Highlands had a total of 1,282 positive patients with 29 deaths. She confirmed that the death cases were all unvaccinated.
Holden said the province lost one of its longest serving male nurses who died from the Covid-19 last week and 89 health staff had tested positive, 32 had recovered and were back at work.
Chairman of the Wamp Nga Holdings and Mt Hagen rural local level government president Wai Rapa said Western Highlands could be the hot spot because so many deaths were occurring in the villages.
“The number of deaths released by the hospital is less than what is experienced back in the villages,” he said.
Rapa said people were conducting mourning and normal funeral services for the Covid deaths which were dangerous.
“We are losing the population, it is very scary and frightening to see people fall and die,” he said.
“I have witnessed it happening in many areas within the province and I, personally, agree that this province is no longer safe.”

Quinn handling Covid-19 bodies with son and daughter

October 14, 2021The NationalNational

Joio Quinn and his children Jobby (left) and Abby at Goroka Ela Motors to receive new tyres. Joio said he got his children to help him disinfect, handle, transport and bury Coronavirus bodies because there was no one to help him. – Nationalpic by ZACHERY PER

By ZACHERY PER
IT’S not a job many would jump at – high-risk and voluntary or paying a meagre allowance-type of reward.
But Joio Quinn is doing exactly that as the Coronavirus body handler at the main provincial hospital in Goroka.
And what more? His two children have joined him.
The Quinns, Joio, son Jobby Naewa and daughter Abby Naewa, are disinfecting, handling and helping transport and bury Coronavirus (Covid-19) bodies in Eastern Highlands.
Quinn got his children working with him because he couldn’t find manpower, but the two siblings are paid a paltry sum – if they are lucky.
“As I am the team leader, I had to start with my own children,” he said.
“If they die, that’s okay, they will go to heaven and I will get the blessing.
“I got my son Jobby and daughter Abby as volunteers.”
Quinn said he knew handling Covid-19 bodies “was a very risky business”.
“It’s a dangerous game, no one wanted to help out and I had no manpower,” he said. When asked whether they were paid, Quinn said they were paid a little allowance, but it was inconsistent.
The siblings were reluctant to disclose the amount they received but described it as minimal.
“There is another reason why I got my children to work with me, if there is any accident and they die there will be no one to blame,” Quinn said.
“It is better for my own children to die than others.”
Jobby said some volunteers had joined them but four left because there was no allowance.
“It’s better to die helping other people,” he said.
“We need manpower, but other people need pay.”

 

‘All deaths unvaccinated’

October 14, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE 252 people reported to have died of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) around the country were all unvaccinated, according to Health and HIV/Aids Minister Jelta Wong.
He added that 99 per cent of Covid-19 patients in hospitals around the country were also unvaccinated.
He told Parliament yesterday that “100 per cent of the patients are in critical care and requiring oxygen”.
“Official cumulative numbers of those affected by the Covid-19 stand at 23,365, with 252 lives lost,” he said.
“But the official figures are nowhere near the actual numbers in the provinces.
“Just like other developing countries which have (gone through) a third wave of the Covid-19 Delta variant surge, the undeclared number of infections and deaths is much higher.”
Wong said some had died in villages.
“It is unlikely that the cause of their deaths will be known and will not be recorded,” he said.
He said the healthcare system had been underfunded for decades and Papua New Guinea was still a developing country “facing the challenges of data collation”.
Wong pointed out that the increasing number of sick or dead people now was motivating many to get vaccinated.
“Demand is rising considerably.
“So much so that while a few months ago we had vaccines expiring, now the government (wants) to bring new doses before the end of the year.
“There is a significant amount of personal protective equipment distributed to the provinces.
“But the lack of visibility on usage and remaining stockpiles is proving a challenge and better data and feedback systems are being developed.
“It includes the Health Department building a dashboard to better monitor this data.”
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has developed guidelines on the Covid-19 therapeutics which is regularly updated, he said.

Country sitting on Covid time bomb, says Wingti

October 14, 2021The NationalMain Stories

THE country is “sitting on a time bomb”, which requires leaders to spread a “unified” message on the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination, says Western Highlands Governor Paias Wingti.
“Churches, leaders in communities and organisations must tell the truth and tell those closest and dearest to them to take the vaccination,” the former prime minister told Parliament.
“Leadership is important.
“The actions of a leader determine what society sees.
“If the actions of the leader are contrary, and they don’t do the right thing, society follows them.”
During a fiery debate in Parliament, Wingti reminded MPs to set the example by taking the vaccine themselves first.
“We have never been serious (about the Covid-19).
“Six months ago, no one took the topic seriously.
“I am glad the Prime Minister (James Marape) took the lead (on the) vaccination,” he said.
“Then we saw church leaders, leaders and others follow suit.”
He advised MPs to think wisely and stop asking the PM for money “because there is no money in the country”.
“Money will not fix the problem.
“The problem will be fixed by the change in mindset and attitude,” he said.
“Nothing else will change the way the Covid-19 is being spread.
“We need to change from the top.”

PM urges people to get Covid jabs

October 14, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
PRIME Minister James Marape has assured those still hesitant about being vaccinated that there is nothing sinister or “underworld” about the vaccines.
“The Coronavirus (Covid-19) is real,” he said.
“There is no other belief that comes with taking the vaccine.
“There is no underworld attached with vaccination.”
Marape told Parliament yesterday that the Government would not “encroach on the personal spaces of individuals” to get them vaccinated.
“(But) if you do not want to get vaccinated, stay at home,” he said.
Marape told Parliament that the Government was considering whether a nationwide isolation strategy should be implemented to address the surge in the Covid-19 cases.
He was replying to Abau MP Sir Puka Temu who queried about health services in Central.
Marape reiterated his plea to everyone to roll up their sleeves and get the jab.
He also advised the Port Moresby General Hospital and the Gerehu Hospital to stop turning away patients from outside the capital city.
“We are the same people from the same country and we must co-exist,” he said.
“It is only a boundary separating us.
“Let us make sure we co-exist.
“This is the Covid-19 time and we need to care for (each other) and not turn away people from another province.
“Whether they come from Gulf or Central, Pom Gen is a national referral hospital.
“It should be embracing all people.”

No graduations, officials say

October 14, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By GLORIA BAUAI
EDUCATION officials and head teachers in Morobe have unanimously agreed not to host school graduations this year.
Morobe education programme adviser Keith Tangui said the decision was a control measure against Coronavirus (Covid-19) currently spreading quickly through the province. “Graduations attract people and we all know that’s how the disease surged in Goroka,” he said.
“So there will be no school graduations for primary, secondary, national highs and technical and vocational education and training schools in Morobe.
“Parents have been advised that students will complete exams and return home and can pick up their academic transcripts and certificates later.
Tangui said three schools in the province had reported Covid-19 cases – a teacher at Omili Primary in Lae, a teacher at Erap Primary in Huon-Gulf, three teachers and one Grade 7 student at Menyamya Primary in Menyamya.
“These schools have been advised to conduct contact-tracing of whoever came in contact with those teachers and students,” he said.
Tangui said the education year would continue normally until the scheduled date of closure by the Education Department on Dec 10.
He said schools must continue to practise the New Normal with strict instructions on mandatory wearing of masks and hand sanitising for the general safety of schools at this time of pandemic.
He urged parents who had not paid their component of school fees to pay up so schools could complete the year without disruptions.
Tangui said the education office had put measures in place to see teachers only on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

Government assures health, police frontline workers of insurance cover

October 14, 2021The NationalNational

THE Government has promised frontline workers in the health and police departments that they will be covered under an insurance plan.
Prime Minister James Marape said the plan was to ensure that frontline workers’ families would be compensated “should anything happen to (the workers) while they are fighting” the Coronavirus (Covid-19).
“The Government is looking at insuring the health workers and police officers in the frontline who have received the vaccine. (They) will be insured,” Marape said.
“If anything happens, (they) will be insured.
“Those working in the frontline and vaccinated, we will be looking at an insurance programme (for them).
“They are our defenders.”
He also assured those working in the districts that the Government would provide them resources “so you can give (your full) attention to fighting the Covid-19”.
Marape said Finance Minister Sir John Pundari had been advised to make sure that the district resources would be able to meet the health care of our people.

Official: Lae seeing increase in vaccination interest

October 14, 2021The NationalNational

LAE is seeing an increase in vaccination interest, with an average of 200 people at one vaccination station over the last three days, an official says.
Morobe health authority chief executive officer Dr Kipas Binga said although this was reported only from the vaccination set-up at Angau Memorial Hospital, it was a positive sign. “There’s a big interest from the public in getting vaccine and our challenge now is to make it available when they come,” he said.
“We have to ensure that our stock supply is regular and staff sorted out in these coming weeks.
“Even Markham ran out of vaccines so they’ll be coming in to get their supply – this shows there’s interest in the districts as well.”
Dr Binga said Morobe brought in its third batch of AstraZeneca vaccine – about 1,500 vials – last week, which he expected to be used up by the end of this week.
He also confirmed also that the province rolled out the Johnson and Johnson vaccine, starting with about 18,000 doses in Lae before going into districts.
Dr Binga said a request has been made to Health Department for the Sinopharm vaccine for Morobe once it is made available. More than 15,000 have received their first dose of AstraZeneca and only 5,910 completed their second dose.
Dr Binga encouraged more people to get vaccinated to protect their families and communities.
“Vaccines promote your body to create specific immunity against specific diseases such as polio, measles and now Coronavirus (Covid-19).”

Bougainville controller announces measures

October 14, 2021The NationalNational

COMPULSORY swab tests will be done on any patient who shows influenza-like illness (ILIs), suffers from simple cough, pneumonia or severe acute respiratory infections (Sari) when attended to at the regional health facilities at Buka, Arawa and Buin and referrals from district health facilities.
Bougainville Regional pandemic controller Clement Totavun, who is also Bougainville’s Health secretary, said all clinical medical officers within the Coronavirus (Covid-19) rapid response team must step up compulsory Covid-19 contact tracing.
All domestic flights into Buka or Aropa must comply with the following requirements:

• GOOD hygiene and social distancing restrictions;
• COMPLETE a domestic health declaration form and submit to the routine quarantine team on arrival in Buka or Aropa airports; and,
• HAVE a valid reason for travel.

“All inbound passengers at both sea ports and airports must have a valid negative result for any Covid-19 test and present for check-in or routine quarantine checks in Buka or Arawa ports,” Totavun said.
As part of the Covid-19 public health measures, the following must be observed and adhered to by all persons at schools, churches, seaports, airports, business houses, workplaces, social clubs, restaurants, public parks and markets, towns, and other public gathering spaces.

Covid-19 a challenge for department, Uguro says

October 14, 2021The NationalNational

By LULU MARK
THE Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has been one of the biggest challenges the Department of Education (DoE) has had to deal with since last year, Minister Jimmy Uguro says.
Uguro said this when presenting the DoE 2020 annual report in Parliament yesterday.
He said with the support of development partners, the department developed and launched the education in emergency response and recovery plan last year.
“This plan secured more than K30 million from the global partnership for education to fund key priorities,” he said.
“A further K10 million was secured from the Australian government to support water, sanitation and hygiene interventions in schools, as well as provide the Covid-19 support to secondary schools.” Uguro said the department received over K640 million (K640,997,550) to implement activities and programmes last year.
He said there was a shortfall of K133 million (K133,566,830).
Uguro said the budget covered the Education Department, National Capital District education services and Teaching Service Commission and Office of Library and Archives.
“The major concerns and issues last year related to inconsistent funding for core functions of department,” he said.
“More importantly is the need for increased funding to implement the new school structure 1-6-6 which requires huge capital investment.”
Uguro said in terms of challenges, the major difficulties experienced last year were related to financing of core functions and schools, infrastructure and provincial capacity to provide education services.

Training on new healthcare policy

October 14, 2021The NationalNational

A GROUP of 12, including three women, underwent a three-day training workshop on a new healthcare insurance product aimed at protecting lives.
The training, run by Agri Assurance Ltd (AAL), prepared the participants from around Lae to carry out awareness in their communities.
The healthcare policy was introduced as a core product for businesses for low income earners.
AAL executive director Mark Baiai said insurance was a vital component of that helped protect the people and saved lives during emergencies.
He said the objective of introducing the policy was to save the lives of people who could not afford clinical fees.
Baiai said AAL was a micro insurance company that provided insurance cover with low premiums and provided a good range of benefits for clients.
“It’s a new approach to health insurance programme in the country where there’s no other programme like what we did by providing 100 per cent on health policy.”