By Michelle Stevens -EMTV News, Port Moresby
A recent discovery of polio case in the 5 Mile settlement has put Health Authorities on high alert as they prepare for polio vaccination campaigns in NCD.
Health Authorities are urging parents to bring their children to vaccination sites.
Due to security reasons, vaccination sites will be near schools, health centers, markets, and bus stops.
Approximately 5000 children at the 5-Mile settlement area, received polio vaccines as soon as a six-year-old boy was confirmed with the disease.
Polio outbreak responses have been carried out in other parts of Papua New Guinea, but this time it will start in the capital city next Monday. Vaccinations will not only be given to children under five years old but from infants to children under 15 years of age.
During a press conference today, the NCD Polio Emergency Operations Centre Coordinator, Dr. Morimai Ipai, said NCD children will get their first dose of the polio vaccine.
Dr. Ipai says the security and safety of health workers will be their number one priority, in light of recent events that occurred during the vaccination process in other provinces, where officers were attacked.
World Health Organisation PNG Representative, Dr. Anup Gurung, says the vaccinations are safe, free and effective.
Vaccination sites should be effective on Monday, September 24th.
