MORE than 100 children and pregnant mothers got vaccinated today at Dorobisoro village, Central Province.
Men and women walked two to three hours from neighboring villages with their children and received vaccines and supplies of medicines.
Community Health Worker Elizah Lofulo said a total of 105 people, including seven pregnant women, were vaccinated.
The vaccination program was carried out for two days since yesterday.
“Many children have not received vaccines since birth and mothers have not gone for any clinical checkup, and the supplies that we brought in have helped many,” Mr Lofulo said.
Peter Gamgee described the vaccination program into the remote Ghost Mountain communities as a major step forward in saving children’s lives and improving basic health services.
Mr Gamgee said they brought in one big box of vaccines with all necessary medicines and syringes to carry out the vaccinations for two days.
He confirmed 72 children were vaccinated yesterday (Thursday) and can save 10 percent of the lives of the children. When there is good health, the children can go to school.
PNG Tribal Foundation is the leading organization who initiated the Ghost Mountain Expedition and with the partnership of Central Governor Rufina Peter and Rigo MP Ano Pala to make it possible for basic services into the village.
Mr Gamgee is communicating with health authorities to bring in more medical supplies soon to continue treating villagers here.
He said the last time many got treated was in 2022 and many children have lacked basic treatment since birth.
“This is the start but we know the vaccine program needs to continue,”
“We have to work to get vaccines in here regularly and refrigeration so the health workers can safely store them and take them out to surrounding villages,” he said.
He said future plans include establishing proper vaccine storage at the local health facility, allowing healthcare workers to carry vaccines by foot patrol into remote communities instead of villagers travelling long distances for treatment.
Kauke Sibide, a longtime community health worker, said the common disease here is malnourished children because of lack of awareness on basic healthcare and how parents can give the right food to their children since birth.
“There is also a common disease like tuberculosis and we don’t have the supply of medicines here to treat patients. Most times they live without getting treatment and the disease passes within their household,” Mr Sibide said.
He said with severe cases, he refers the patients to Kwikila Health Centre for treatment. It takes them five days to reach the health centre.