Mandatory vaccination picking up pace in Papua New Guinea

News that matter in Papua New Guinea

 Mandatory vaccination picking up pace in Papua New Guinea

PORT MORESBY: Employers and Government institutions in Papua New Guinea (PNG) have started mandating vaccination against the Coronavirus (Covid-19).

The National and Supreme Courts in Waigani are in a week-long lockdown from yesterday (Oct 19, 2021) to Tuesday (Oct 26, 2021) and all court staff are now required to get vaccinated.

The Land and Physical Planning Department will only allow in and serve people who produce their vaccination card or Covid-19 test results.

Last week, the National Capital District Commission also initiated moves to require all employees to be vaccinated under the Occupational Health and Safety requirements.

It’s board are meeting to decide on the implementation of a “no jab, no job” policy.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below several news reports on the Covid-19 status in PNG as published by The National:

Partial lockdown

October 20, 2021The NationalMain Stories

Jack Kariko

By ZEDAIAH KANAU
THE National and Supreme Courts in Waigani are in a week-long partial lockdown from yesterday to Tuesday, National Judicial Staff Services secretary Jack Kariko says.
“All court staff are now required to get vaccinated for Coronavirus (Covid-19) during the partial lockdown,” he added.
Kariko said in a media statement that all divisional managers/heads within the services, the courts and court tracks were required to submit by the close of business on Thursday a list of names of the staff or persons who had been vaccinated.
“The list must also be updated constantly,” he added.
Kariko said all staff in the registrar’s office and the registry trust account division and other staff must now get a Covid-19 test, self-isolate for seven days and get tested again after isolation.
“From Tuesday, staff will be required to show their green vaccination card before being allowed to enter court premises.”
The services’ Sheriff and security division will strictly enforce a “no green vaccination card, no entry” mandate.
“Staff who have yet to be vaccinated will be required to show a negative Covid-19 PRC (polymerase chain reaction) test result to security officials before being allowed in whilst staff who do not produce their test result will not be allowed into the court premises from Tuesday,” he added.
Kariko said the instructions would also apply to all lawyers and court visitors in addition to measures announced by the National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning and the court’s Covid-19 protocols.
“Any staff who defy the instructions will be referred to the office of the services secretary for further disciplinary action (s),” he added.
The Supreme Court sitting fixed for next week (Oct 25 to Oct 29) will proceed unaffected, but under strict compliance of all Covid-19 measures, protocols and instructions.
The court premises will also be cleaned and sanitised today.

Dept serving only vaccinated clients

October 20, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE Lands and Physical Planning Department will only allow in and serve people who produce their vaccination card or Coronavirus (Covid-19) test results, according to Department secretary Benjamin Samson.
And the move has been supported by Personnel Management secretary Taies Sansan.
“I support that move as we do not want the public service workforce to be infected and affected,” she said.
She told The National that her own department had also taken steps to protect its workers.
“In our case at the department, we have stopped duty travel to high-risk provinces, and encourage the online mode of communication between agencies, especially the provinces,” she said.
“Otherwise, vaccination is still voluntary.
“But I am encouraging public servants to take the vaccine to protect themselves, their families and (workmates).”
A public notice at the Lands Department states that anyone who fails to produce a vaccination card or a Covid-19 test result within three days of the test will be denied entry.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused, but we are taking strict measures for the safety and protection of our staff from the Covid-19 and in particular the dangerous Delta variant.”

Over 400 tested positive for Coronavirus in SHP since Sept 20

October 20, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By PETER WARI
THE Mendi General Hospital in Southern Highlands has tested more than 400 positive cases of Coronavirus (Covid-19) since Sept 20, says health authority chief executive Dr Joseph Birisi.
Birisi told The National that the 400-plus positive cases were part of 760 people who had come in for the antigen rapid tests.
“There were 12 deaths, one from the Ialibu District Hospital (all unvaccinated), and 53 patients hospitalised,” he said.
Birisi said 63 had recovered and seven were discharged.
“Of the total cases, 40 of them are health workers (seven doctors) and six of them are hospitalised.
“The third wave is far worse than the previous ones, we are seeing more cases since Sept 20.
“The vaccination status as of Oct 8 is; the target population was 133,846, 1,434 received the first dose and 750 received the second dose.”
Birisi said the hospital was facing issues with beds for the patients.
Currently there were 40 beds available, the Covid-19 ward had 12 and 28 for the medical ward.
He said there were 34 inpatients, 10 new admissions in the past 24 hours.
“Severity in infection admitted to the ward – 28 severe cases and moderate to severe six,” he said.
“Southern Highlands is now regarded as a high-risk province as far as Covid-19 surge is concerned by the Controller’s office.
“Personal protection equipment, drugs, oxygen, medical equipment, manpower shortage and bed space are still a challenge to us to address the pandemic together with other general diseases.” Birisi said three facilities that would be managing the Covid-19 cases were the Mendi General Hospital, Ialibu and Nipa district hospitals.
“The task force team will be stopping public gatherings, overcrowding in PMVs, markets, churches, shops, institutions and monitor entry points with neighbouring provinces to apply the new normal measures,” he said.

 

Unvaccinated dead

October 20, 2021The NationalMain Stories

CORONAVIRUS (Covid-19) bodies registered and released by the Goroka General Hospital were all unvaccinated, deputy director of curative services with the Eastern Highlands health authority Tonny Basse says.
Basse said, to date, critically ill patients admitted at the Covid-19 isolation centre who had died and bodies brought to the hospital from around the district had been identified to be unvaccinated.
“If 500,000 people out of 700,000 people of Eastern Highlands are vaccinated, the Covid-19 situation would be minimised,” he said.
“Currently the Johnson and Johnson and AstraZenecca vaccines are rolled out in PNG because they conform well to our temperature.”
Basse highlighted the importance of vaccination during the presentation of nearly K1 million by Henganofi MP Robert Atiyafa to the health services in Henganofi.
Basse told members of the Henganofi development authority that the way to avoid getting infected with the Covid-19 and its Delta variant was to get vaccinated.
He lauded Atiyafa for taking the lead in mass vaccination in Henganofi’.
“I support the initiative taken by Henganofi to go for a mass vaccination for the entire district,” he said.
Atiyafa delayed the vaccination programme he had set yesterday for Henganofi station. He, however, assured people that the vaccination programme would take place this week and that he would be the first to take the jab.
Meanwhile, Atiyafa presented K900,000 to the district health services to fund infrastructures and health programmes.
He directed district health staff to spend K250,000 to build a Covid-19 isolation centre for Henganofi to isolate people with the virus.

Jab reports vital: Manning

October 20, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
NATIONAL Pandemic Response Controller David Manning wants all provinces to provide better daily Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination reports to the National Control Centre (NCC).
Manning told The National that the daily reports were needed to compile an up-to-date vaccination report from around the country.
The vaccination rate rose from 0.1 per cent in April to 9.8 percent in October. And in those seven months, 290,513 people were vaccinated.
“I believe it could be higher if the provinces send through their reports (daily),” Manning said.
“Some provinces have been sending their reports once or twice a week. Then the NCC will not receive a report for five days. We miss out on a lot of vital information that is needed.”
He said Manus, West Sepik and Milne Bay had reported Covid-19 Delta variant cases but only sent a one-day report of their vaccination programme.
“Western, Central, NCD, Northern, Morobe, Madang, New Ireland, West New Britain and Hela have not presented their vaccination report for five days,” Manning said.
Manning said only Eastern Highlands had been up to date with its reporting.
The National Capital District has 44,253 people fully vaccinated – about 48 per cent coverage of its target of 92,312.
“The ENB target is 77,059 with only 2,167 fully vaccinated – around 3 percent,” he said.
“Western Highlands was given a target of 90,838 but so far only 2,850 had been fully vaccinated.
“Morobe has been given a target of 189,992 but only around 8,803 has been fully vaccinated.
“We need more people to come to forward for the vaccination.”

Rev: Faith in God behind my vaccine decision

October 20, 2021The NationalMain Stories

PNG Council of Churches general-secretary Reverend Roger Joseph says he elected to get the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine because of his faith in God “who alone gives fullness of life”.
“I made a bold decision to receive my first vaccination shot on May,” he said.
“I believe that God has given us that exclusive power of choice to exercise our faith in Him, who alone gives fullness of life.”
He said fullness of life meant living in well informed, organised and mutual relationships with fellow men.
He urged Christians to create harmonious, conducive, healthy, organised, informed and resilient communities.
“In deciding to take the vaccine, I played my social obligation to help prevent the virus from spreading and growing within our communities,” he said.
“The Bible informs me (John 15:13) that the greatest love one can have for his friends is to lay down his life for them.”
Rev Joseph said this was an act of love one needed to take to create harmony in their own Christian journey as one tried to follow the steps of the Lord Jesus Christ during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“It is my prayer that you too will make a commitment to uphold your social obligation to serve the people in these unprecedented times,” he said.
United Church of PNG moderator Rev Bernard Siai encouraged people not to be scared of the vaccine or what was happening now.
He welcomed the vaccine when it arrived because he knew it would help people.
“The vaccine given to people should not be something that we fear but something to accept because it will help us.
“I believe God has blessed us, given wisdom to people to come up with the vaccine.
“I will go for it, I will also take my wife to take the vaccination,” he said.

8,083 received Sinopharm vaccine, says doctor

October 20, 2021The NationalNational

People being vaccinated with the Sinopharm vaccine by a Chinese medical team. – Picture supplied

AS of Monday, 8,083 people have been vaccinated with Sinopharm against the Coronavirus (Covid-19) in Papua New Guinea, Chinese medical team assistant captain and consultant neonatologist Dr Liu Zhenqui says.
“Vaccination is the only way to help people minimise the effects of the Covid-19 infection,” he added.
There are four sites where the public can receive the Sinopharm vaccine:

• NATIONAL Capital District – Port Moresby General Hospital;
• NEW Ireland – Kavieng General Hospital and Namatanai Hospital; and,
• EAST New Britain – Butuwin Sub Health Centre in Kokopo.

Hospital reports sixty-eight Covid-19 deaths since Sept 27

October 20, 2021The NationalNational

A nurse attending to a Coronavirus (Covid-19) patient at the Nightingale Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby on Monday. The St John Ambulance chief executive officer Matt Cannon says “it is difficult” coping with the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) surge in the National Capital District (NCD). – Picture supplied

By LULU MARK
THE Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) yesterday reported that 68 people had died from the Coronavirus (Covid-19) during the surge which started on Sept 27.
Chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi said 58 people died between Sept 27 and Oct 17. Ten died this week.
He said the mortuary had 300 bodies and was full.
Some bodies had to be stored outside the morgue.
He urged relatives to come and take away the bodies for burial.
The emergency medical team led Dr Garry Nou reported to the National Control Centre that hospitals such as the PMGH, Mt Hagen and Goroka were barely coping with the surge in cases.
“We’re at the moment barely managing with the existing load,” he said.
“In NCD, the isolation facilities at Gerehu General Hospital and Taurama Acquatic Centre are full. Patients are lying everywhere. The situation is dire.
“During the third wave, health workers have died, further putting a strain on the existing manpower and the weak health system.”
Deputy Controller of the National Pandemic Response Dr Daoni Esorom urged the people to follow public health safety measures. He said the holiday season was approaching when people would go to their villages and could be taking the virus with them.
“We will not be able to help many people because many villages are not accessible by road for people to go quickly to the health facilities,” Dr Esorom said.

Hard to cope with Covid-19 surge: Cannon

October 20, 2021The NationalNational

THE St John Ambulance chief executive officer Matt Cannon says “it is difficult” coping with the current Coronavirus (Covid-19) surge in the National Capital District (NCD).
“We have put a call out for doctors and nurses from Australia to assist,” he said.
“We need to take on more patients to ease the burden on PMGH. We need more doctors and nurses.”
Cannon said 31 patients were admitted on Monday alone at the Nightingale Covid-19 centre at the Taurama Aquatic Centre (TAC) run by the St John and the Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH).
The centre can take up to 150 patients which will require more doctor and nurses.
Cannon urged everyone to get the Covid-19 vaccine.
“No soldier today would walk into a battle without a bulletproof vest,” he said.
“The Covid-19 vaccine is like a bullet proof vest. If you are shot you will still get injured but a vest will increase your chance of survival.”

Eastern Highlands Health Authority gets K1.4mil to combat virus

October 20, 2021The NationalNational

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
A PROVINCIAL Health Authority (PHA) official has confirmed that K1.4 million had been given to his province for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) response effort, which had been acquitted already
Eastern Highlands PHA chief executive officer Dr Joseph Apa told The National that the K1.4 million was to be used for surveillance, advocacy and infection control.
Prime Minister James Marape and National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning had recently been telling the PHAs to acquit the funds given to them.
Marape said K200 million had already been given out to the provinces.
Apa said the Government allocated K1.4 million to be used in specific areas.
“PHAs are not at liberty to use the funds at will. That means we cannot prepare isolation facilities or even build one and equip it,” he said.
“That’s the limitation. So when disaster strikes, it’s difficult for PHAs to isolate and treat people when the number starts growing.”
He said they received K200,000 initially followed by K1.2 million.
Last week in Parliament, Marape said K74 million had been distributed to all PHAs last year, but the Government was yet to receive from the PHAs their plans.
Marape said the PHAs were given K4.4 million, beginning with K200,000 each to start the Covid-19 work. He said the second disbursement was K37 million.