by Tokana Hasavi – EM TV, Port Moresby
This afternoon, the Health Department’s Public Health Executive Manager, Dr Sibauk Vivaldo Bieb, told EM TV News that another stakeholder’s meet will occur on Friday.
The meet is aimed to establish solid action plans for Ebola monitoring and surveillance facilities at PNG’s entry points, with compliance to World Health Organisation guidelines.
This is a requirement as Papua New Guinea is a member country to WHO.
So far, the country still remains vulnerable to Ebola, despite authorities saying PNG’s chances are low.
The Health Department has issued traveller awareness documents as part of its awareness campaign which includes a national contingency plan.
Mandatory developments at PNG’s entry points, as per WHO guidelines, are yet to be seen.
Within PNG’s draft Contingency Plan for Public Health Emergency, the Prime Minister and NEC are at the helm with the appointment of a National Coordination Body and Task Force that liaise directly with the Health Minister and Secretary.
Additionally, the plan indicates that Hospitals must be prepared to meet elevated needs, in the event of a Public Health Emergency and able to hospitalise an influx of patients.
This isn’t the case for the Port Moresby General Hospital and plans are underway to find a suitable location.
The stakeholders meet on Friday will also put this issue among others under microscope.
