Joint media campaign launched to eliminate maternal and neonatal tetanus

Maternal and neonatal tetanus [MNT] remains a significant public health issue in Papua New Guinea [PNG], as it is one of the last ten countries in the world yet to eliminate the disease. 

National Department of Health's [NDoH's] Acting Executive Manager for Population Health and Health Communities Dr Lutty Amos said Tetanus is a disease that infects the mothers and young girls through injuries, and it is only preventable through Tetanus Vaccine.

“Papua New Guinea is the only country in the Pacific with Tetanus. With collaborative effort, it is possible to completely eliminate,” Dr. Amos said.

To address this, NCD Provincial Health Authority [NCDPHA], City Pharmacy Limited [CPL] and NDoH jointly launched the Media Campaign.

This campaign is to ensure people are well informed of its causes and educate them on prevention.

The Curative Health Director Dr Michael Dokup believes this Public-Private Partnership Initiative has possibility to eliminate Tetanus in PNG.

Dr Dokup said the partnership of CPL with NCDPHA and NDoH will greatly help in this campaign.

The partnership with CPL will be extended to its other sites within Port Moresby during this MNT campaign and the upcoming Polio Immunization Campaign.

“I strongly encourage all young girls and women between the ages of 15-44 years, including pregnant and breast-feeding women to visit their nearest health facility and mobile teams to receive the free tetanus immunization to protect themselves against tetanus disease,” said Dr. Dokup.

Meanwhile, the Head of Pharmacy, Pradeep Panda said that CPL did well through its partnership with NCDPHA’s Clinic at Badilli.

“It is possible to achieve our goal through collaborative effort in this campaign, “said Mr. Panda.