PNG Bed nets stolen

[Sally Furniss]

PNG
Mamose Post

Thursday 30th July, 2009

Bed nets means no more bites

By PATRICK LEVO

THE buzz of a mosquito at night is annoying. It is also frightening because you never know whether it is the malaria parasite being carried by the anopheles mosquito that is buzzing your bedroll.
For the young children of Yanga village near Lae, the irritating buzz at bedtime will now be a thing of the past, thanks to Rotary Against Malaria (RAM) in PNG. No more slapping, no more smelly coils, no more anti-insect sprays ? just a peaceful night?s sleep under a treated bed net.
On Monday, Huon Gulf Rotary Club president Cynia Sanchez and the Lae health team delivered treated mosquito nets and anti malaria medication to households in Yanga village.
Mrs Sanchez (pictured) accompanied a team of eight health workers to visit Yanga where she spent time talking to mothers and children.
The Huon Gulf and Lae Rotary Clubs have been active in the RAM initiated fight against malaria by organising local fundraising, distribution of mosquito nets and advocating the ?adopt a village? approach to fight the disease.
RAM PNG chairman Ron Seddon accessed K136 million from the United Nations to mount the battle against malaria in PNG.
The Health Department has assigned Dr Theo Likei, the malaria program advisor and Abori Agabis, provincial malaria coordinator to assist with the bed net program.

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090730/mamose03.htm

[Sally Furniss]

Re: Bed nets means no more bites

Biting the hand that feeds us

THE news that the distribution of treated mosquito net bedding has come to a halt because of gangs in Lae is so discouraging!

Health staff were traumatised when held up and robbed as they went into a Lae city compound on Tuesday. All the bedding was stolen and, as well, they were robbed of their own valuables.

It?s not the first time such has happened when the health workers were going into settlements to hand out the mosquito-proof bed nets.

Acting district health administrator Juliana Niakambari said her team had been subjected to such attacks when going to other settlements.
It seems to be one more sign of a breakdown in public spiritedness and co-operation in many of our cities and towns.

You and I, sitting back in our comfortable offices and homes, are horrified and wonder what sort of mentality can guide people to attack those people bringing life-saving help to their people.

But of course our judgment is coloured by our position in life. Many of the people in settlements are living on the fringes of life and feel they must grab at whatever they can take.

However we must look to the leadership of these settlements and the poorer suburbs of the cities. If there are leaders, they must stand up and show their qualities in such situations.

These nets were not going to some middle-class folks in fenced-in three-bedroom houses, they were going to the attackers? own wantoks and friends. Now they won?t get them, and they will remain at risk of catching malaria and all the attendant woes of that disease.

This is the message that leaders in settlements and suburbs must get across to their people. You?re biting the hand that feeds you!
Those health workers and others like them who are trying to improve life for people are not compelled to do it. They can earn their wages or get good feelings from what they do by going to places where they are welcomed and protected.

This is a point that has to be spread to all communities: there are people ready and willing to help improve your living, your health and education, but the providers of these services must be protected and cared for.
They don?t want to ?run the gauntlet?? of soured village or settlement malcontents.

This is the task ahead of many goodwilled people.

http://www.postcourier.com.pg/20090820/view.htm