By HARLYNE JOKU
A single mother of three children, Malin Leme who works at Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) as a cleaner says she is ready to receive the COVID-19 AstraZeneca Vaccine when the roll out programme begins on Tuesday this week.
Malin from the Southern Highlands province has worked at PMGH for the past three years in the Cleaning and Hygiene section. She and others in the division are responsible for cleaning up the hospital wards, wash up the utensils, bed sheets and gowns, and generally maintain cleanliness and hygiene in the wards for the sick.
She told PNG Bulletin in an interview on Friday after the vaccine rollout awareness session that she is not afraid to take the vaccine.
She said in Tok Pisin but translated; “I first heard about COVID-19 last year and I was afraid of getting the disease but I continued to work. Last year there were a few cases. Now there are more cases, the COVID-19 patient admitted to PMGH are rising. Thy tell us to wear masks.”
“We used to pay K1 bus fare to come to work, now we pay K1.50. That is why now I know the sickness is spreading. But we must believe in God. He will remove this sickness from us and we will be all right. They said PNG is a Christian country so I believe this sickness will not kill all of us. Every one of us have our time to die as planned by God.
“Our Boss said people around the world are taking it and it is working, they are getting better. So now if I want to take the vaccination, I will take it.
“I have three children, my husband has left me. If I die from this COVID sickness who will look after my children. If they give me the vaccine I will take it. I know that sickness does not come for nothing. It comes when we do not take good care of ourselves. If the vaccination can protect me as a health worker, I am happy to receive it,” Malin told PNG Bulletin.