PNG and Australia support delivery of one million yaws tablets to West Sepik

The Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF), has helped the Australian Defence Force (ADF), deliver one million yaws treatment tablets, to the West Sepik Province.

The azithromycin tablets are antibiotics, which are used to eliminate yaws, a bacterial skin disease, which occurs mostly among children in tropical climates and causes sores on the skin and damage to bones and joints if left untreated.

The Australian High Commission in a statement says, the campaign is led by the West Sepik Provincial Health Authority, with the help from Australia, the National Department of Health (NDOH), World Health Organisation (WHO), and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The first shipment of medicines was flown from Lae to Vanimo earlier this month aboard an Australian Defence Force aircraft.

The medicines were donated by pharmaceutical company EMS Brazil through the World Health Organization (WHO).

The campaign aims to provide treatment to the entire population and help stop the spread of the disease.

The High Commission also says that the antibiotics, will help treat other infectious and neglected tropical diseases in the local communities of West Sepik.