Message of Hib vaccine to PNG
Dr William Lagani, is a paediatrician by profession and works with the Health Improvement Branch at the Department of Health Head Quaters and Family Health Services. He has been given the task to coordinate the introduction of the Haemophilus Influenzae type b (Hib) vaccine into PNG.
He visited Goroka to collect additional data on Hib diseases (meningitis and pneumonia) in children less than five years of age from Goroka Base Hospital and PNG Institute of Medical Research, where a lot of work on Hib diseases had been done.
PNGIMR Nius talked to Dr Lagani after he gave a presentation about the vaccine and showed a DVD about the success of the Hib vaccine in two countries.
IMRN: Can you briefly tell us about the purpose of your visit to Goroka?
My purpose for the visit to Goroka is to talk about the progress of the Hib vaccine which is soon to be introduced in the country.
The Hib vaccine was trialed in Goroka and Port Moresby in 2002 and has proven to be successful in reducing the morbidity and mortality rates for Hib meningitis and pneumonia.
The other purpose for the trip to Goroka is to get data on Hib diseases.
Goroka is one of the eight hospitals that I have visited to get an estimate baseline data on the burden of Hib diseases so that after the introduction of the Hib vaccine we can be able to assess the impact of the vaccine.
This vaccine is funded by international organisations that are willing to help countries like Papua New Guinea to reduce the mortality rate of Hib causing diseases.
We are now trying to bring the vaccine into the country under the National Routine EPI program and introduce it nation wide by August 2007.
IMRN: You’ve shown us a DVD of the Hib vaccines success in two countries. Can you briefly highlight the success of the vaccine and how we can learn from it when introduced to PNG?
The video basically showed the success stories of Hib vaccine trailed in Gambia (Africa) and the other yet to be administered in Bangladesh (India).
The outcome of the vaccine trailed in Gambia’s district clinic has proven very successful by reducing the rates of mortality from Hib causing diseases. The Hib vaccine was administered in the developed countries during the early eighties and has proven to be successful but it is expensive to introduce into under developed countries where the disease burden of Hib is high. Once the vaccine is in the country we will launch it in Goroka and Port Moresby and then we will introduce it nation wide. Our plan is by August 2007 the Hib vaccine should already be available in all district health vaccine stores in each province ready for distribution to all respective Clinics.| © Copyright 2007 PNGIMR. | IMR Nius is produced by IMR's Communications Department. Contact Us |