By Sharlyne Eri – EMTV News, Lae
According to officials from the World Health Organization, there has not been any recent detected case of polio in the country since the vaccination campaign begun last year, according to Radjendra Gadhavi, who was in Chimbu on Tuesday for the launch of the National Polio, Measles and Rubella Campaign.
Gadhavi said the campaign against polio has shown great results so far – however, said the possibility of the virus coming in from nearby countries, remains a threat.
“Recently there has been an identified case at the Indonesian border. This is a threat for us, therefore we need another immunization program to secure Papua New Guineans from polio,” Gadhavi said.
With funding from the Provincial Government totaling five hundred thousand Kina, Chimbu joins other provinces that launched a campaign targeting children under five years old.
Governor of the Province, Michael Dua, said delivery of basic services is one of his priorities and has appealed for support from public servants in the province.
Dua is urging them (public servants) to stay away from politics and concentrate on serving the people of Chimbu through such health programs and others.
This year has been declared the year of immunizations, thus bringing back the routine immunization programs