PNG Haus Bung

https://pnghausbung.com/justice-delayed-for-shane-and-ethan-suspect-in-double-murder-still-awaiting-charges/

Published on May 6, 2021

JUSTICE DELAYED FOR SHANE AND ETHAN: SUSPECT IN DOUBLE MURDER STILL AWAITING CHARGES

It has been more than a week since the horrific murder of 5-year-old Shane Benjamin and 2-year-old Ethan Benjamin, allegedly stabbed by their own biological father after an argument with the boys’ mother. Dave Benjamin Gau, the suspect in the double murder of his sons, remains in police custody as criminal investigations continue. This is day 9 and the suspect is still awaiting charges to be laid. NCD Metropolitan Superintendent, Superintendent Gideon Ikumu said the suspect is still in police custody due to the severity of the crime committed. Ikumu stated the reason for this being to protect the suspect himself as well as the public due to the sensitivity of the issue as the NCD CID finalize their investigations. NCD police boss added that the suspect is yet to be charged and a psychological examination of both the suspect and his partner are being sought out by the NCD CID at this time. The 2-day mental evaluation was set to begin on Wednesday. Meanwhile, sources in the family told this newsroom that a post-mortem has also been completed on the two boys with initial findings submitted to police this week.

Published on May 6, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/unicef-and-newcrest-mining-support-mission-to-vaccinate-frontline-workers/

Published on May 6, 2021

UNICEF AND NEWCREST MINING SUPPORT MISSION TO VACCINATE FRONTLINE WORKERS

The deployment of the first batch of 132,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccines provided through the COVAX Facility is underway in Papua New Guinea (PNG). One of the world’s largest gold mining companies, Newcrest, has donated approximately AUD 2.5million to UNICEF to support the roll-out in the country’s New Ireland Province. Together with an additional estimated AUD 290,000 in in-kind logistics support, this is the largest contribution from a company for the vaccine deployment in PNG and will enable: • Planning and coordination in country • Vaccine delivery to reach the target population with immunisation • Training of health workers • Community engagement to build trust and encourage uptake • Systems strengthening to deliver critical routine vaccination for children. “The roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine is an important first step in protecting essential workers to ensure that they in turn can do their jobs to keep the community, including children, safe,” said Claudes Kamenga, UNICEF’s Representative in Papua New Guinea. “In close collaboration with the PNG National Department of Health, WHO and development partners, UNICEF is on the ground and supporting the roll-out in communities.” Newcrest Mining established a Community Support Fund of AUD 20 million in April 2020, half of which has been directed to assist Papua New Guinea in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since then Newcrest has worked with organisations such as UNICEF to boost access to medical care and equipment nationally and provincially. Most recently, Newcrest’s focus has turned to supporting the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine across New Ireland Province. Newcrest Managing Director and CEO, Sandeep Biswas, said as long-term contributors to Papua New Guinea, the Company was committed to supporting government efforts to protect its people in responding to the pandemic. “Newcrest supports the people of Papua New Guinea in this most challenging of times. The vaccine roll-out in New Ireland reinforces our long-term commitment to our host communities and to the health and safety of the people of Papua New Guinea,” said Mr Biswas. New Ireland Governor, Sir Julius Chan, welcomed the efforts of Newcrest Mining in the fight against the spread of the virus. “The response to COVID-19 is everybody’s business. It affects all of us, regardless of gender, social status, race or religion,” Sir Chan said. As of 4 May 2021, there have been 11,407 COVID-19 cases, including 121 deaths reported in PNG. Vaccination remains an important public health tool against the COVID-19 pandemic and is effective at preventing severe cases, hospitalisation and death. “COVID-19 is the biggest global crisis since World War Two and children will not be safe until everyone they rely on is safe. The only way we can overcome this crisis is to come together as a global community,” said Tony Stuart, CEO of UNICEF Australia. “As a Founding Member of UNICEF Australia’s COVID-19 Vaccination Alliance, Newcrest is contributing not only vital funds for UNICEF’s COVID-19 emergency response in PNG but also demonstrating a leading role in how the private sector can support this response.” The latest donation from Newcrest is in addition to its contribution in 2020 of AUD $1million. This donation helped UNICEF to procure Personal Protective Equipment for all 22 provinces in PNG as well as supply ventilator equipment and train frontline health workers who provide care for critically ill COVID-19 patients in ICU settings. UNICEF is leading the largest ever vaccine procurement and supply operation for COVAX. The global COVAX Facility was set up to ensure equitable and safe access to a COVID-19 vaccine worldwide.

Published on May 6, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/shp-pha-emphasises-the-importance-of-vaccination-in-communities/

Published on May 6, 2021

SHP PHA EMPHASISES THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATION IN COMMUNITIES.

International Immunisation Week was celebrated last week by nations around the globe. Immunisations save hundreds of millions of lives every year across the world and are widely recognised as one of the world’s most successful public health interventions. Many once deadly diseases have been eliminated or are now well managed as a result of immunisation programs which commenced with the invention of a vaccine for smallpox in 1798. Two hundred years later, many others such as cholera, mumps, measles, polio, TB, and tetanus, to name just a few, are all preventable with safe vaccines. In Papua New Guinea (PNG), health centres continue to drive the message to communities on the importance of vaccinations to improve health and wellbeing. The world acknowledges the last week of April every year as Immunisation Week. Health facilities around PNG also commemorated the week with different activities to promote the use of vaccines in protecting children and adults against disease. Southern Highlands Province (SHP) was no exception. SHP Provincial Health Authority (SHP PHA) Chief Executive Officer, Dr Joseph Birisi said, “While the current focus is on new vaccines to protect against COVID-19, the need to ensure routine vaccinations are not missed, remains essential.’ Putting in practice this statement, the province conducted a two-week routine immunisation health patrol into remote communities in the five districts of SHP, Kagua-Erava, Ialibu-Pangia, Mendi, Nipa-Kutubu and Imbonggu. They reached close to a thousand children who all received vaccinations. “During this global pandemic, many children missed out on being vaccinated, leaving them at risk of serious diseases like measles and polio. In addition, managing the misinformation around the topic of vaccination also adds to this threat. We don’t want preventable diseases getting out of control because we failed to immunise our children” said Dr Birisi. ‘But we are grateful for partners like Oil Search Foundation (OSF) through the Accelerated Immunisation Health System Strengthening project (AIHSS), the World Health Organisation and UNICEF who support us to carry out our work. These organisations assisted us to conduct routine immunisation and carry out advocacy and awareness to help build people’s trust, that vaccination saves lives and protects people.’ ’The AIHSS project is a Government of Papua New Guinea initiative supported by the governments of Australia and New Zealand with support from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and with technical assistance from the World Health Organization and United Nations Children’s Fund. Alphonse Sambai, the SHP PHA officer responsible for coordinating immunisation projects said, “it was pleasing to see community members bring their children to receive their routine immunisation during the health patrols conducted into remote communities. They welcomed us and made sure their children received their vaccinations.”

Published on May 6, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/south-pacific-export-lager-wins-gold-at-monde-selection-awards-2021/

Published on May 6, 2021

SOUTH PACIFIC EXPORT LAGER WINS GOLD AT MONDE SELECTION AWARDS 2021

South Pacific Brewery Limited is delighted to announce that it was granted a Gold Quality Award for South Pacific Export Lager by the prestigious Quality Institute Monde Selection. This award guarantees that the quality of the product has been tested and approved by a professional jury under rigorous evaluation procedures and strict criteria. South Pacific Export Lager was granted a 2021 Gold Quality Award from Monde Selection, one of the leading International Quality Institutes led by a panel of 80 independent experts. “SP Brewery stands by its values: ‘passion for quality’,” said Brand Manager, Miriam Lama. “As the leading brewer in Papua New Guinea, we aspire to continue producing top quality products to our consumers. “While this is not the first time for South Pacific Export Lager to win a Monde Award, to strike gold in the 2021 awards is a big achievement. This is a testament of how we value quality.” Mrs Lama also commended the committed SPB team who are instrumental in brewing quality products. “People are at the heart of our business operations. The people who deserve accolades for this gold award are our very own Papua New Guineans working at the Lae Brewery, as well as our Marketing team, here in Port Moresby.” Monde Selection Managing Director, Dimitri Delloye, said: “Receiving a Monde Selection Quality Award is an amazing accomplishment coveted by all producers and companies committed to the continuous quest for the best quality results. The blue and gold seal of quality is a powerful instrument to encourage producers all over the world to earn the trust of professional buyers and guide consumers in their purchasing choices.” About Monde Selection’s approach and Quality Awards Celebrating 60 years of experience, Monde Selection has established itself as a leading authority in the quality evaluation of consumer products based on organoleptic and scientific parameters. The evaluation process is carried out by a jury of experts composed of technicians, master brewers, and chemical engineers renowned for their knowledge in food science, biotechnology, brewing science and fermentation technology. To guarantee an objective and comprehensive judgment, each of the jury members are asked to independently and without deliberation fill out a specific evaluation form including up to 20 parameters to establish the quality profile of the product. The jury may also request the execution of advanced chemical laboratory analyses to round out the product evaluation. At Monde Selection, the evaluation goes far beyond regular tastings, as the Beers, waters and soft drinks jury also takes time to share their knowledge and experience while carefully evaluating each individual product without resorting to any comparisons. The current global situation did not stop over a thousand companies from 90 countries to submit more than 3,100 products in this year’s World Quality Selections.

Published on May 6, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/nambawan-super-appoints-project-manager-for-9-mile-land/

Published on May 6, 2021

NAMBAWAN SUPER APPOINTS PROJECT MANAGER FOR 9-MILE LAND

Nambawan Super (Limited) has announced the appointment of a new Project Management team that will commence work on the 9-Mile project. Over the next 3-months, the Project Manager will be working with all stakeholders, NCDC, the State, and settlers with the view to finding a win-win solution. Nambawan Super has fought prolonged legal and bureaucratic battles to secure the site and during this time many people have been confused and misled into settling on the land. The Fund does sympathise with those who have been defrauded by fake ‘customary land holders’, however it must act to protect a valuable asset that is owned in trust for the more than 200,000 members of the Fund. The State and NCDC need to work with Nambawan Super to help find a workable solution if settlers are not be evicted. Nambawan Super again asks that political representatives refrain from commenting publically about proposed solutions that have not been confirmed, that may confuse settlers, regarding the status of the site and their illegal occupation. Although discussion have commenced, at this time, there are no formal agreements in place between the Fund, the State, and NCDC. The Fund has secured Court Orders for vacant possession and intends to enforce its rights to ensure members’ hard earn savings are protected and not lost through corruption, false ‘customary land holders’ and opportunistic settlers. There are everyday, hard-working people, some of who are members of the Fund, who will be impacted if stakeholders can’t reach an agreement in the next 3-months. If a viable solution cannot be achieved in this time, Nambawan Super will exercise its legal rights to achieve vacant possession to enable an orderly redevelopment of the land. It remains Nambawan Super's hope that a win-win solution for all stakeholders is achieved.

Published on May 6, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/controller-manning-directs-no-fees-on-vaccination-shots/

Published on May 6, 2021

CONTROLLER MANNING DIRECTS NO FEES ON VACCINATION SHOTS

POLICE Commissioner and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response David Manning has issued a directive to both private and public health facilities not to charge fees when immunising any person against COVID-19. Mr Manning issued a directive which comes into effect on May 05 that: · No private or public health facility shall charge any fee or require any payment when immunising any person against COVID-19 through the Papua New Guinea Government National Vaccination program; · No person shall be required to pay any fee or payments for a COVID-19 vaccine provided through the Papua New Guinea National Vaccination program; · COVID-19 vaccinations are to be administered by the Provincial Health Authorities and Port Moresby General Hospital; · No health facilities except those administered by an organisation listed in paragraph 3 are permitted to administer COVID-19 vaccinations unless approved in written by the Controller and subject to the conditions imposed by the Controller in the written approval; and · Any failure by an individual or organisation to comply with this direction is an offence under the National Pandemic Act 2020. Non-Compliance with this direction can result in a fine not exceeding K50,000.00 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding five years. This Direction comes into effect on May 5, 2021 and continues in force during the period of the declaration of a pandemic or as amended in writing by the Controller. [pdf-embedder url="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Direction-Authorisation-Vaccination-Bougainville-05.05.21.pdf"] [pdf-embedder url="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Direction-Authorisation-Vaccination-Bougainville-05.05.21.pdf"]

Published on May 6, 2021