WHO: New vaccine will save many lives in PNG

By MATTHEW VARI

Sunday, November 17, 2013 (Sunday Chronicle, PNG)

WORLD Health Organisation representative, Dr William Adu-krow highlighted the importance of the newly introduced Pneumococcal Conjugate Vaccine 13 (PVC13) in saving the lives of children in Papua New Guinea, last week at the vaccine’s launch to mark the fifth World Pneumonia Day, last week at Gaire village in the Central Province.

He said that with the inclusion of the vaccine in the National Vaccination Schedule of PNG- children in the country will have better chances of survival by their fifth birthday.

Dr Adu-krow emphasised that the introduction of the vaccine showed that the Government of PNG, through the Department of Health, along with supporting partners WHO, UNICEF, GAVI, Paediatric Society of PNG, Church Health Service and PNG Medical Research Institute, were all committed to defeat pneumonia in the country.

“This fifth pneumonia day is a historic day for us, as we take another step to combat pneumonia in PNG thereby saving the future of this country.”

“Vaccination is one of the cost effective ways to reduce childhood mortality and thereby reducing the burden of the vaccine preventable diseases in PNG.”

“We can extend this benefit to all beneficiaries in the country, only if we all join hands in ensuring equity in service delivery to reach to all children in the country,” he said.

Pneumonia is the number one killer of children under age five worldwide, killing nearly 1.1 million children in 2012 alone- 17 per cent of total deaths for children under age 5.

Each year, pneumonia kills more children than AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis combined.

He called on all stakeholders to step up in their efforts as developing countries were the most prone areas where pneumonia thrived.

“We must scale up our efforts to meet the global challenge of ending preventable child deaths by the year 2035."

"Children living in developing countries are most at risk from pneumonia, with more than 99 per cent of deaths from pneumonia occur in the developing world- where access to health care facilities and treatment is often out of reach," he said.

He added that there were already many existing solutions to tackle both pneumonia and diarrhea, like exclusive breastfeeding and good nutrition, immunization, hand washing with soap, access to sanitation and safe drinking water, clean fuels, zinc and oral re-hydration solution, amoxicillin and Vitamin A, can substantially reduce child deaths.

"The world including PNG has made substantial achievements in child survival over the past 20 years."

"Millennium Development Goal 4, calls for the reduction in the under-5 mortality rate by two thirds between 1990 and 2015, which can be achieved through an intensified, integrated and sustained effort to reduce pneumonia and diarrhoea deaths."

The presence of distinguished guests today in this launch clearly demonstrates the commitment of the leaders to prioritise ending vaccine preventable child deaths in PNG; and WHO is proud to be part of this.

There are more than 90 types of pneumococcal bacteria causing pneumonia; PCV13 protects against 13 of them.

These 13 strains cause most severe infections in children and about half of infections in adults.

With the Department of Health ready to introduce the vaccine in the entire country- health workers in all health facilities will be trained in administering the vaccine  and the introduction material have been developed by the department, with support from WHO and UNICEF.

"I wish you all success for this launch and we reiterate our commitment for all support to the National Department of Health in this initiative."