Awareness Materials at the Front line of Papua New Guinea’s Cholera Battle

By Nikki Harvey

SYDNEY, 7 July 2010 - Since the first case of cholera was reported in early May 2010, estimated case numbers in the National Capital District of Papua New Guinea, which includes the capital city Port Moresby have skyrocketed due to the lack of knowledge of proper hygiene practices and exposure to contaminated water sources including the ocean. While the death toll has remained low, the number of cases has now risen above 650, forcing the Government of Papua New Guinea to declare a state of Health Emergency.

UNICEF’s main concern throughout this outbreak has been making sure the general public, especially those living in affected areas, are getting all the information they need to protect themselves from cholera. While deadly, if caught early, cholera is easily treatable with Oral Re-hydration Salts which help to replace the body’s lost fluids. As always, prevention is better than a cure, and UNICEF has been supporting the National Department of Health to promote good hygiene behaviors and practices so that people, especially children, avoid contracting cholera in the first place.

At Elavala village, one of the worst hit areas in the National Capital District, a steady trickle of residents approach a tent that has been set up by the Red Cross as a makeshift cholera information centre. The dedicated volunteers manning the centre each day are helping to distribute the UNICEF supported materials which have been created to promote preventative measures. People who visit the information tent can simply take some pamphlets and posters or they may choose to sit down while the volunteers take them through the key messages for cholera prevention.

Before Red Cross, and before the materials from the National Department of Health arrived, 3 retired nurses, Aiva Bau, Elizabeth Pidi and Hilda Boga took it upon themselves to use their medical knowledge to set up a cholera screening centre in the heart of Elavala village. “We set up this screening centre when the first case was reported and we’ve been here ever since. We are here during the week and even Saturday and Sunday,” said Aiva Bau. With hardly any medical equipment at their disposal, the three women still manage to provide a vital service by identifying possible cholera cases and referring them to the Cholera Treatment Centre. Now armed with flashcards that UNICEF helped develop, they are able to conduct their own information sessions with the Elavala residents who visit their stall.

UNICEF has provided technical and financial support to the National Department of Health to come up with key messages that will be the most practical and useful things for people living in affected areas to know. Good hygiene practices such as boiling water for cooking and drinking, going to the toilet as far away from food preparation and living spaces as possible, cooking food well and eating it hot to avoid cross contamination and washing hands after using the toilet and before eating food, have been translated to Pidgin and displayed on large and colourful posters for dissemination. The other important message UNICEF has helped the Department of Health to capture is how to properly handle the body of a person who has died of cholera. Whilst a confronting issue, an alarming amount of new cholera cases reported in the National Capital District have been traced back to those people who attended the burial of a cholera victim, highlighting how important it is to educate people about hygienic burial practices.

As a part of the United Nations wider response to the outbreak of cholera in Papua New Guinea’s National Capital District and Central Province, UNICEF continues to provide technical and financial support to the National Department of Health as well as collaborating with other development partners to increase awareness raising activities. UNICEF remains committed to ensuring that cholera prevention messages reach those in need, especially children and women.

About UNICEF
UNICEF is on the ground in over 150 countries and territories to help children survive and thrive, from early childhood through adolescence. The world’s largest provider of vaccines for developing countries, UNICEF supports child health and nutrition, good water and sanitation, quality basic education for all boys and girls, and the protection of children from violence, exploitation, and AIDS. UNICEF is funded by the voluntary contributions of individuals, businesses, foundations and governments.

For more information, please contact:
Martha Tattersall, UNICEF Australia
0421 570 393
mtattersall@unicef.org.au