Mobilizing against polio in Papua New Guinea
Take a look at how the Papua New Guinea Government, the World Health Organization, and partners of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative are responding to the country’s recent outbreak of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus.
Reposted with permission from gavi.org.
At Malahang health clinic near Lae in Morobe Province, a health worker administers the oral polio vaccine (OPV) at a supplementary vaccination activity targeting children under five years. As part of the health ministry’s response to Papua New Guinea’s recent polio outbreak, four additional rounds of OPV vaccination are planned in Morobe, Madang and Eastern Highlands provinces.
An aerial view near Lae, Morobe Province. Papua New Guinea’s first polio outbreak since 1996 was first identified at Lae. Low immunization coverage rates, poor water sanitation and hygiene all contributed to cases of circulating vaccine-derived poliovirus (cVDPV).
Officer-in-charge Daisy Basa (centre) checks a child’s vaccination card at the Malahang Health Clinic. More than 2900 health workers, vaccinators and volunteers have been mobilized to vaccinate almost 300,000 children under five years old in Morobe, Madang and Eastern Highlands provinces.
Locals in traditional dress provide entertainment for families attending the supplementary vaccination sessions at Malahang health clinic. A national public awareness campaign has played a key part in the Government’s comprehensive response to the polio outbreak, helping to maximise vaccine coverage of children under five years old.
OPV is being provided free of charge to every child living in the three affected provinces through local health centres and vaccination posts.
The National Department of Health (NDOH) is leading efforts to limit the spread of the disease, in collaboration with WHO, GPEI and other partners. As well as the supplementary vaccination sessions, the National Public Health Emergency plan includes strengthening surveillance systems for early virus detection. WHO is supporting this work, ensuring swift investigation of every case of suspected polio paralysis.
A mother and her child attend the supplementary OPV immunization session at Malahang health clinic.
Vaccine supplies are loaded into the cold room at the Morobe Province supply store in Lae. Thanks to the quick response of the National Department of Health (NDOH), along with WHO and other partners, thousands of children have already been vaccinated. Efforts continue to detect and protect against the virus.
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