PNG Haus Bung

PNG RECORDS 82 NEW COVID-19 CASES LAST WEEK – TOTAL CASES AT 11,119

Papua New Guinea has recorded 82 new COVID-19 cases last week, increasing the total number of cases to 11,119. The cases were reported in six provinces of which the National Capital District reported the highest of 71 cases. Western province and Central reported three cases each, Morobe and East New Britain two cases each whilst Eastern Highlands reported a single case. Of the 82 cases, 49 were males and 33 females. Their ages range between 12 to 81 years. At the time of testing, 63 cases were showing symptoms of COVID-19 whilst 19 were asymptomatic. The country’s COVID-19 cases now stand at 11,119 with 115 known deaths and 9,302 recoveries. A total of 1,702 cases are active within the last 14-day period. All 22 provinces including the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (AROB) have reported cases. Globally, the total confirmed cases of COVID-19 is 150,213,686 including 887,228 new cases reported last week The death toll is at 3,163,563 including 15,334 new deaths in the last week. [pdf-embedder url="https://pnghausbung.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Graph-30.04.21.pdf"]

Published on May 2, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/improving-the-recruitment-and-selection-process/

Published on May 2, 2021

IMPROVING THE RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION PROCESS

The allegations of bribery and corruption within the Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) recruitment section has seen the Defence Department take drastic measures over the past couple of years to fix the problem, including replacing the whole recruitment team with new members and a new director. According to the Defence Force Chief of Staff, Navy Captain Philip Polwara, there are still gaps to be filled in the recruitment process and the defence force is looking into ways to improve it so as to recruit the suitable candidates only. This includes sitting with the selection panel of the education department or introducing online applications. “These are some of the options we are looking at. The minister is adamant that we have to get through what is being practiced by the department of education from the way they make selections. The system is a bit tighter than ours.” Meanwhile, the PNG Defence Force has recruited recently people with technical background and qualifications who are currently going through the recruitment process, to fill in the void of technical personnel in the force. The Chief of Staff said the defence force needs personnel with the technical background because these are the people that will support the logistical system that supports the Navy, the Army and Air elements.

Published on May 2, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/warring-clans-negotiate-for-peace/

Published on May 2, 2021

WARRING CLANS NEGOTIATE FOR PEACE

Police in Eastern Highlands are working closely with the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government and Kainantu MP, Johnson Tuke for a return to normalcy in Kainantu following ongoing clashes between the Tapo and Agarabi clans. Deputy Commissioner for Police Northern Command, Chief Superintendent John Kule says police are working closely with the support of stakeholders for a peace agreement between the two factions. Fighting between the warring clans which erupted in February this year over a land argument has since claimed 20 lives and left destruction to property and food gardens. “Right now, the situation is back to normal but still tense.” “Police and peace mediating committees in Kainantu are working tirelessly to bring peace into the area.” Leaders from the Tapo clan were brought in to Goroka on Thursday under police escort to meet with Eastern Highlands Governor Peter Numu for discussions on a way forward. Another meeting will be held at Yonki on Monday for the Agarabi clan to meet with the Peace and Good Order Committee and other stakeholders to hear their concerns as well.

Published on May 2, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/milne-bay-police-boss-now-confident-of-restoring-order-with-reinforcement-in-town/

Published on May 1, 2021

MILNE BAY POLICE BOSS NOW CONFIDENT OF RESTORING ORDER WITH REINFORCEMENT IN TOWN

Milne Bay Provincial Police Commander Chief Superintendent Peter Barkie says with reinforcements now on ground in Alotau, police are in a better position to go after criminals who were responsible in the recent launching of a series of indiscriminate attacks on Alotau town. At about 8 PM on Thursday night, police responded to a report of a wanted criminal at a settlement in town. Upon arrival on the scene the police officers were confronted with heavy gunfire. This was followed by a series of indiscriminate attacks on residential properties and business houses in Alotau through the night and into the early hours of Friday morning. However, due to low manpower police strategically sought out to focus on protecting vital assets in town. “I have received reinforcements and I am now more comfortable to deal with the situation so we are going after them.” PPC Barkie further assures law abiding citizens of Milne Bay that the police is now better positioned to provide a degree of protection in terms of public safety to them. “We can now assure them operations of vital assets will continue as normal.” “I want to inform them that the long arms of the law will eventually catch up with those who have broken the law.” “The purpose of that is to crate a safe, secure and peaceful environment for the people of Milne Bar to go about their local business.” The situation in Alotau is under control, with business houses operating as normal throughout the day however tensions remain at this time.

Published on May 1, 2021

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Published on April 30, 2021

INDIA PASSENGERS BANNED FROM ENTERING PNG

The Commissioner of Police and Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response David Manning has banned all passengers coming out from India effective today. The directive was made in the wake of the second wave of COVID-19 in India and the emergence of the Indian Variant of COVID-19. As per the directive, no person is permitted to board an aircraft or ship bound for Papua New Guinea from any foreign point of departure or airport if that person has been in the Republic of India in the past 21 days prior to the day the vessel or aircraft departs on its journey to PNG. Any person that fails to adhere to this direction shall be deemed to have committed an offence under the National Pandemic Act 2020. Also, a person or organisation that allows a person to board an aircraft bound for PNG in breach of this direction shall be deemed to have committed an offence under the National Pandemic Act 2020. This directive will remain in force during the period of the declaration of the pandemic or as varied or revoked by the Controller.

Published on April 30, 2021

https://pnghausbung.com/more-than-3000-vaccinated-in-ncd/

Published on April 30, 2021

MORE THAN 3,000 VACCINATED IN NCD

More than 3,000 people in the National Capital District have been vaccinated from the 8,000 doses of the AstraZeneca vaccine that was donated by the Australian Government for frontline workers involved in PNG’s COVID-19 pandemic response, says Police Commissioner David Manning. Mr Manning, who is Controller of the PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response, said health and essential workers including Police, Correctional Services and Defence personnel were among those who have been vaccinated thus far. “I took the shot together with the Prime Minister Hon. James Marape, the Health Minister Hon. Jelta Wong and other national leaders. We are leading the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and so as responsible leaders we took the AstraZenega vaccine. There have been no major side effects reported from us or the 3,000 other recipients of the vaccine so far. “It is a choice each individual has to make but I urge everyone, especially the frontliners to be vaccinated. We are in the front leading the assault against COVID-19 and I need to know that all our fighters are properly protected against the virus which has so far claimed the lives of over three million people and infected close to 150 million people globally,” Mr Manning said. Vaccine roll-out plan The Controller said that the National Roll-out Plan for the COVID-19 vaccine began on March 25-26 with a training on COVID-19 vaccination for all Provincial Emergency Operation Centres (PEOCs). He said this was followed by a series of training activities/workshops for various target groups covering overview of the vaccination program and microplanning, vaccine, immunization safety, communication and demand generation. Mr Manning said all these different training programs are still underway with the actual vaccination scheduled for Monday May 5. He said all provinces are being sent their allocated doses of the AstraZenega vaccine. According to the distribution plan for the vaccine, 103,725 people have been listed to be vaccinated in the first phase. They are either health care workers, support staff of both public and private health facilities, workers at quarantine and isolation facilities, students at health institutions such as nursing colleges and medical schools, prison guards, border and immigration/custom officers, seaport workers, airport/aviation officers, airline workers, police, Defence Force personnel and teachers. Vaccine distribution “Under the COVAX program we have so far delivered vaccines to two provinces, Western Highlands and Hela. Both have received 3,100 doses each of the AstraZenega vaccine. Hela’s vaccine was delivered on Tuesday by a team from Port Moresby,” Mr Manning said. The team consisted of Ms Martha Pogo, the Acting Manager of the Expanded Program on Immunisation, National Department of Health, Mr Philip Posu, Cold Chain Officer with the NDOH, Mr Humphrey Lubwama, UNICEF and Chief Superintendent Dominic Kakas from the National Control Centre. The team also attended a workshop on vaccination organized by Dr James Kintwa, the Chief Executive Officer of the Hela Provincial Health Authority for health workers from Hela. “If the reaction from the Health workers in the Hela Province is an indication, I am confident of a successful roll-out of our COVID-19 vaccination program into the provinces,” Mr Manning said. Globally, as of 5.16pm, April 28, 2021, a total of 148,329,348 confirmed cases of COVID-19 was reported, including 3,128,962 deaths. A total of 983,410,283 vaccine doses have been administered world-wide as of Wednesday April 28. New Indian Variant Mr Manning said a new variant, which has a so-called double mutation was detected in India. He said this is a worry to the experts who say it could be fueling India’s new wave, making it the world’s second worst-hit country, surpassing Brazil again, and is already overwhelming its hospitals and crematoriums. India has reported more than 14.5 billion COVID-19 cases so far and more than 175,600 deaths. “For Papua New Guinea, the Genome sequencing of 457 samples done at the MDU laboratory in Australia has found no variant of COVID-19 in PNG. Although this is good news for us, we however, like many other countries, are worried about the Indian Variant spreading to our shores. We are watching closely and seriously considering taking measures to ensure this new variant and others like it do not enter PNG,” Mr Manning said. The Controller said whilst the vaccine roll-out is set for May 5, all citizens must continue to observe the New Normal or “Niupela Pasin”. Mr Manning said, “Even after vaccination we still have to adhere to the Niupela Pasin. The COVID-19 vaccine is no different to other vaccines against diseases such as tuberculosis (TB) which we all got when we were children. Many people still get TB even though they were vaccinated as children. “So, it is important that people continue to follow the health measures in place against COVID-19, including wearing face masks, frequent hand washing with soap and water, physical distancing, avoiding crowds and maintaining general cleanliness. “There are new variants of COVID-19 emerging in many countries, including India that is causing so much strife but by adhering to the health measures against COVID-19 or Niupela Pasin, you will help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the new variants from entering into and spreading throughout the country.”

Published on April 30, 2021

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Published on April 30, 2021