NCD to implement ‘no jab, no job’ policy

 News that matter in Papua New Guinea

 

NCD to implement ‘no jab, no job’ policy

PORT MORESBY: The National Capital District Commission (NCDC) is planning enforcing a “no jab, no job” policy requiring all employees to be vaccinated by Nov 1, 2021, or be taken off the payroll.

An inter-office memorandum dated Tuesday (Oct 12, 2021) with the heading “No jab, no job – vaccinate by Oct 28, 2021” was signed by city manager Bernard Kipit.

NCD Governor Powes Parkop confirmed that the management decision was based on occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements.

It will now be taken to the board of the commission to consider.

Meanwhile, bodies are piling up in Goroka Hospital as the Coronavirus (Covid-19) ravages Eastern Highlands.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below several news updates published by The National:

‘No jab, no job’

October 13, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By MIRIAM ZARRIGA
THE National Capital District Commission (NCDC) plans to enforce a “no jab, no job” policy by requiring all employees to be vaccinated by Nov 1, or be taken off the payroll.
An inter-office memorandum dated yesterday with the heading “No jab, no job – vaccinate by Oct 28, 2021” was signed by city manager Bernand Kipit.
NCD Governor Powes Parkop confirmed that the management decision was based on occupational health and safety (OHS) requirements.
“The city manager has to take all steps necessary to protect the welfare of the staff of the commission and to protect the commission so that it continues to function with limited hindrance,” Parkop said.
“As the municipal government or city authority, the commission must continue to function so it ensures essential municipal services continue as they are equally important for the city, its economy and wellbeing.”
He said protecting the NCDC “against irresponsible employees” was an important responsibility of the management and board.
The memorandum stated that the 150-plus employees who had been fully vaccinated would be given coloured Identification (ID) cards this week or by the middle of next week. The unvaccinated workers will be divided into two groups. The first group will be given time-off from Oct 14 to 21 to get the first dose of the vaccine.
The second group will be given one week from Oct 21 to 28 to do the same.
It means that by Nov 1, all employees still unvaccinated “will be put off the payroll”.
“Those who remain unvaccinated by the end of the year “will be issued summary termination for non-compliance with the OHS policy”.
Kipit said in the memo the move was warranted because of the “devastation the Delta variant is creating in the Highlands region and the rest of the world”.
“We have a duty to protect our staff and the commission,” he said.
“The closure of the commission as a result of (the Covid-19) will affect the entire city.” Parkop said he would be calling a board meeting soon to make a decision on the matter.
“I want to encourage the public too to take the vaccine as it will protect us, our families, our friends and work colleagues against the virus. Let’s not wait for body bags to pile up at the morgues and funeral homes.”

Morgue at stadium full

October 13, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By GLORIA BAUAI
MOROBE’S Coronavirus (Covid-19) mortuary at the Sir Ignatius Kilage Stadium has reached its capacity and officials are seeking more space elsewhere.
Provincial health authority chief executive officer Dr Kipas Binga said the 20ft container morgue could hold 16 to 20 bodies at any one time and it was full to capacity.
“The authority is looking at options, including having to bring another container,” he said.
“We may call for bodies to be quickly removed or we talk with authorities to dispose of unclaimed bodies.”
Dr Binga revealed this during a talkback show on NBC Morobe last week.
He said cases in Morobe had increased over the last three weeks, with an average of three to five people per week.
“It may increase further in a few days, we’ll just wait and see how the numbers will go and the disease trend in Morobe,” Dr Binga said.
He said rural districts of Wau-Bulolo, Markham and Menyamya had recorded Covid-19 deaths while Lae led with close to 20 deaths over the last three weeks or so.
Lae and Wau-Bulolo have the highest number of active Covid-19 cases in the province at present.
According to Dr Binga, figures provided were conservative due to less testing and no proper reporting from districts.
He said from last August to last month, a total of 10,610 people had been tested for Covid-19 and only 1,178 were confirmed positive.
He said there was need for more testing to be done, even into the districts to be really sure of the Covid-19 situation in Morobe.

Govt queried on Covid funding

October 13, 2021The NationalMain Stories

DEBATE in Parliament heated up yesterday when the Government was questioned on its Coronavirus (Covid-19) funding to provinces and districts, plus the vaccination roll-out programme.
Pomio MP Elias Kapavore and Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu questioned Health and HIV/Aids Minister Jelta Wong on the vaccine roll-out, funding, and strategies to combat the surge in the Covid-19 cases around the country.
Numu said his province was facing a dire situation as the Covid-19 death toll continued to rise.
He queried the funding for the vaccination roll out plans, saying the province had to set aside K1.4 million to support the eight districts in addressing the pandemic.
Wong said he would respond in detail later to Numu.
Opposition Leader Belden Namah asked Wong how the Covid-19 funds had been used.
“Why are all the hospitals throughout the country overcrowded? What have you done with the funds?” Namah said.
Wong explained that the Government last year gave K2 million each to MPs to prepare for the Covid-19. But Namah said it was the same answer given by Prime Minister James Marape.
“I have proven that there was no K2 million for the hospitals. You are misleading Parliament,” Namah said. Wong said K2 million had been given to each province and district, and it was the duty of MPs to ensure that the money was used for the Covid-19.
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird said only K501 million of the K5.7 billion allocated in the Budget had been made available for the Covid-19 programme.

Businesses urge residents to get jabs

October 13, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By PETER ESILA
BUSINESSES in Goroka want to see more people get the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine as it is the most effective way to get on top the pandemic.
Goroka Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Chris Anders said they wanted to see a bigger effort put into vaccinating people because many countries had proved that vaccination was the only way to control the pandemic.
“We held a chamber of commerce meeting today (yesterday) and I would say that the majority of the business community supports the two-week lockdown in the province to stem the tide of Covid-19 cases,” he said.
“It is important that the (Eastern Highlands) provincial health authority set up vaccination hubs in the districts as soon as possible.
“All healthcare workers should be vaccinated otherwise they should stay away from work.
“It time for elected leaders to step up and support the vaccination programme.
“Compulsory vaccination for people in the workforce should be debated in Parliament.
“PNG should take note of what countries like Fiji and the Solomon Islands have achieved as a result of their leaders taking a strong stand on vaccination.
“Businesses want to provide a safe place of work for their employees, and the only way to do that is by making vaccination compulsory.
“The country needs leadership on this.”

More people coming to get vaccines, health authority says

October 13, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By LULU MARK
BETWEEN 60,000 and 70,000 people have been fully vaccinated, and around 140,000 confirmed to have received their first dose of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccine, it has been revealed.
Health authorities are noticing more people getting vaccinated as they try to reach the target of 20 per cent of the population this year.
Minister for Health and HIV/AIDS Jelta Wong said vaccination would contain the Covid-19 surge.
“For the country to get on top of the Covid-19 Delta variant, everybody must be vaccinated,” he said.
According to the PNG Covid-19 Situation Report released last week, 139,930 people have received one dose and 65,834 people have been fully vaccinated.
This is 3.5 per cent of the target population for 2021.
He compared PNG to the Covid-19 situation in Fiji where more than 80 per cent of the population had been fully vaccinated and was now opening its international borders. The vaccination numbers have quadrupled in the past week with the assistance of the St John Ambulance.

Another wave of Covid-19 risky for Lae, Guinness warns

October 13, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By JIMMY KALEBE
GEOGRAPHICALLY, Lae should not be able to survive another Coronavirus (Covid-19) wave which means the public is prone and the risks extremely high, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) northern command Peter Guinness says.
Lae is the gateway to the Highlands region and Mamose regions so it is in a target zone, he said.
ACP Guinness, who is also a member of the Morobe Covid-19 emergency operations committee, said once Lae experienced an outbreak like Goroka in Eastern Highlands, emergency kits and the availability of health equipment at present could not cater for everyone.
“We heard that the Goroka Base Hospital is running short of oxygen cylinders to use on Covid-19 patients, but because of assistance from business houses and the public, they are able to provide that,” he said.
“Lae, being central and Goroka the gateway to the Highlands region, people travelling on the Okuk Highway will easily pass the virus to others in the Highlands region or Lae when they are infected.
“So with the manner in which people are not sticking to strict Covid-19 protocols in Lae now, if we experience another wave now, we would not survive it.”
“This is why strict measures has to be taken by authorities and that is not to scare people but to help them prevent the spread of Covid-19. When we tried to enforce the wearing of face masks, hand sanitising and social distancing, people still could not follow these simple rules; police now will start arresting those without face masks in public places.”
ACP Guinness said Lae and Morobe should be prepared early should there be another wave of Covid-19.

Mendi needs more health workers, says doctor

October 13, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By PETER WARI
THE Mendi Provincial Hospital in Southern Highlands needs more health workers to handle an expected surge in Coronavirus (Covid-19) cases after 40 of its staff tested positive.
Provincial Health Authority chief executive officer Dr Joseph Birisi told The National that of the 40 health workers, seven were doctors and the rest nurses.
“From Sept 20 to Oct 10, 291 positive cases were reported with 33 admissions and eight deaths.
“We are receiving 20 to 30 positive cases daily,” he said.
“We are down on manpower.
“We need funding to engage health workers to assist us during this crucial time.
“Medical ward patients have been moved to other wards to cater for Covid-19 cases.
“They are likely to die from other diseases like tuberculosis (TB), pneumonia, HIV/AIDS, hypertension, diabetes, trauma and others if we do not balance the services properly.”
Dr Birisi said 12 beds for Covid-19 patients at the isolation ward were all occupied.
He said the hospital had been using RDT kits and GeneXpert for testing of which they would run out soon.
They need money to buy more test kits.
Dr Birisi said construction of a new isolation ward at the hospital was progressing and needed more funding to be equipped.
“We are also looking at opening and building capacity at Ialibu and Nipa hospitals to relieve the Mendi Hospital.”