Papua New Guinea MP calls on Govt to make jab mandatory

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Papua New Guinea MP calls on Govt to make jab mandatory

PORT MORESBY: Abau MP and former Health Minister Sir Puka Temu urges the Government to sanction mandatory vaccination for the people because the country’s vaccination rate remains the lowest in the world.

He is the first MP brave enough to make such a clear and strong stand – since the Coronavirus outbreak in March 2020 – for public health of Papua New Guineans and the country.

PNG Cyber Monitor reproduces below a few news reports on the current status of the pandemic in Papua New Guinea as published by The National:

Temu: Make jab mandatory

November 18, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By LULU MARK
THE Government has been urged to sanction mandatory vaccination for the people because the country’s vaccination rate remains the lowest in the world.
The suggestion was made in Parliament yesterday by Abau MP and former Health Minister Sir Puka Temu, who described the Government’s efforts to drive the vaccination programme as “dismal”.

“We have the lowest vaccination rate in the world. Health workers should come forward and get the vaccine,” he said.
“If I were on the other side (Government) I will (push) for mandatory vaccination.”
Sir Puka said the voluntary vaccination policy was “weak” and urged the Government to “improve” its vaccination drive.
He also advised the Government to develop a standard treatment protocol for the Coronavirus (Covid-19), which India had successfully used to quickly bring down its rate of infection this year.
He said medicine must be made available in the public health system.
Sir Puka said India had a very bad surge this year but it came up with the standard treatment protocol to address it.
“Covid-19 treatment drugs were sold over the counter which really helped in bringing the cases down,” he said.
He said medicine must be made accessible.
He claims that doctors in hospitals are writing prescriptions for medicine for Covid-19 patients to be bought at the private dispensaries.
“The doctors looking after the patients don’t have the medicine,” he said.
“This is happening in the pandemic.”
He said when the country did not have resources in the past, standard treatment protocols to treat diseases were developed which was applauded by the international community.
He said “the same can be done (now)”.
He advised Prime Minister James Marape to instruct the Health Department to quickly come up with the standard treatment protocol for the Covid-19.
He said the Covid-19 was a public health emergency hence the Government must buy medicine.
While some families can afford the cost of the medicines on the prescription given by doctors, many could not.

Heated Covid-19 debate

November 18, 2021The NationalMain Stories

By LULU MARK
GOVERNMENT MPs told Opposition Leader Belden Namah in Parliament yesterday to be careful about the information relating to the Coronavirus (Covid-19) he was giving the people as it was a sensitive matter.
In a heated exchange on the Covid-19 no-jab-no-job policy, Speaker Job Pomat tried hard to maintain order as the debate developed into a shouting match.
The attack on Namah began when he was responding to a statement by Prime Minister James Marape on the Covid-19 public protest, and the Government stand on vaccination.
Namah said the “right to employment of our people is their constitutional right”.
Maprik MP John Simon raised a point of order: “Can (Namah) give me which part of the constitution says you have the right to be employed? It’s very confusing.”
Justice Minister Bryan Kramer said: “The concern here is we have the leader of the opposition making unfounded statements that are in correct in law and not factual that are going on record. So please Mr Speaker, can you advice the Opposition Leader to just stick to the issue.
“Don’t delve into technical matters he has no knowledge about.”
National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop advised Namah that his position as Opposition Leader was very important which he should use responsibly.
“(He) used his platform to talk about the rights of our people which is alright, but he must caution himself because what he says people take personally or literally that their rights is more important than our obligation to each other,” Parkop said.
“Section 48 of constitution about the right of employment says it’s not an absolute right. It’s a qualified right but it gives you a right of choice of employment,” Parkop said.
East Sepik Governor Allan Bird cautioned MPs that “right now, Papua New Guineans are tuned in to watch what we are saying here.
“All of us must be responsible in what we say. We have to check our facts.”
Bird said the section of the constitution on the right to employment read “every person has the right to freedom of choice of employment”.
“It doesn’t say that – you must have work.
“It says that you have the choice in any calling for which he or she has the qualifications lawfully required subject to the regulations and restrictions,” he said.
“We must get our facts right before we present them on this floor,” Bird said.

Man charged under Pandemic Act over vaccine cards

November 18, 2021The NationalNational

POLICE have changed the charge against a man accused of producing and distributing the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination record cards, after reviewing the legislation they had used previously.
They had previously charged Allan Steven of uttering a false document and forgery under the Criminal Code Act. Now, he has been charged with impersonation under the National Pandemic Act 2020.
Steven, 38, of Keteve village, Okapa in Eastern Highlands appeared before Senior Magistrate Pious Tapil in the Lae Committal Court where he was informed of the change to the charge. Magistrate Tapil granted him bail for K2,000 and his two guarantors to pay surety fees of K200 each.
He told Steven that the bail conditions must be strictly followed as the offence was serious.

Nurses helping s patient at the Nightingle Covid-19 care centre at the Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby earlier this month. Chimbu health director Tonzi Aure has warned people that whatever they read on social media opposing the Covid-19 vaccinations are fake news. - Nationalfile pic

Anti-vax news on social media are fake, official says

November 18, 2021The NationalNational

By ZACHERY PER
A HEALTH official has warned people that whatever they read on social media opposing the Coronavirus (Covid-19) vaccination is fake news.
Health director of the Simbu Provincial Health Authority Tonzi Aure said anyone could pass around negative messages on the Covid-19 vaccines and claiming to be a doctor or a scientist “with this and that experience and background”.
“Even I can claim to be one from Kundiawa and circulate speculative messages on social media that can be accessed anywhere around the globe,” he said.
“These messages can easily lead you to believe them.
“You form an anti-vaccine information in your mind already.
“This will lead you to (oppose) vaccination.
“Many who went against it during the first wave have changed and got their jab during the second wave.”
Aure believes that if a stronger third wave hits Chimbu, “many who are against the vaccine today will run for the vaccine”.
“What is on the Facebook is fake news.
“Do not believe it. Get vaccinated and save your life and that of your family members.
“I got mine to protect my family,” Aure said.
“I encourage you all to get vaccinated. It is not compulsory for you to get it.
“ It is voluntary.
“If you do not like, it is your choice. If you want to get it, it is also your choice.”

Nurses assisting a patient at the Nightingale Covid-19 care centre at the
Taurama Aquatic Centre in Port Moresby earlier this month. Health director
of the Simbu Provincial Health Authority Tonzi Aure has warned people that
whatever they read on social media opposing the Coronavirus (Covid-19)
vaccinations are fake news .– Nationalfile pic

 

Treat Covid seriously, MPs told

November 18, 2021The NationalMain Stories

THE Coronavirus (Covid-19) is not a joking matter, nor should it be a subject of political debate, says National Capital District Governor Powes Parkop.
He said the Covid-19 was real and should be treated seriously, as everyone was concerned about the increasing number of deaths, as is the case in Port Moresby.
“The number of haus krai in the city have increased and so are the request letters from the families of those who have died from the Covid-19, seeking financial assistance for funerals and burials,” he said.
“We are trying hard to educate our people on vaccination as even traditional methods are not enough to eradicate the virus.”
Parkop told MPs in Parliament during a debate on the pandemic that they should take seriously medical advice from local doctors.
“We have to take medical advice from (Abau MP) Dr Puka Temu and others like him who are veterans in the medical field, rather than being misinformed by fake news on social media,” he said.
Parkop stressed that the key was in the Covid-19 vaccination – the only way to boost one’s immune system against the virus.
He urged MPs to take responsibility and support measures put in place by the Government to address the pandemic.
Parkop said it was unfair to blame individuals such as Prime Minister James Marape or National Pandemic Response Controller David Manning for the situation the country was in as regards the Covid-19.
“They are not medical experts or scientists, but are trying their best (to find an effective response to the Covid-19) and should be commended for that,” he said.
Parkop said both men made decisions based on medical advice from local doctors such as Dr Paki Molumi and his deputy at the Port Moresby General Hospital, and the PNG Medical Research Institute.

Marape warns protesters of putting their lives, others at risk

November 18, 2021The NationalNational

PRIME Minister James Marape has warned those staging protests that they are endangering their lives and those of others as the rate of the Coronavirus (Covid-19) transmission is high.
Commenting on the small public protest in Port Moresby on Tuesday, Marape said police should have done more to stop the crowd.
“But, that didn’t happen and the petition was received and considered,” he said.
Marape said the petition called for no vaccine, no mandatory vaccination and to remove the Pandemic Act 2020.
“There is no mandatory vaccination, so please don’t gather around and cause strife in our city,” he said.
“We are not stopping you from raising issues you feel the Government needs to hear.
“The National Control Centre is (operating) on the third floor of Morauta House.
“Bring your concerns there, instead of causing unnecessary nuisance.
“If genuine NGOs (non-government organisation) have issues or a specific workplace issue, come to the Morauta House.
“We could deal with them to ensure our people’s rights are not unnecessarily sabotaged or tampered with.”
Marape encouraged citizens to stay away from such crowd which could end develop into a Covid-19 super-spreader.
He said the Government agreed that workplace safety was important but after considering the views of the people, a new workplace protocol and order was issued by the Pandemic Controller recently on testing to be conducted at the gate for those who did not want to be vaccinated.