Two weeks ago, Mt Hagen City was buzzing with excitement as our Public Health Team in collaboration with the City Pharmacy Ltd to celebrate World Malaria Day and World Immunization Week.
This year’s theme for World Malaria Day is “Malaria ends with us- Reinvest, Reimagine, Reignite”, while World Immunization Week emphasized that “Immunization for all is humanly possible”.
The two combined events were successfully conducted to promote health education and awareness while integrating various public health services to the general public.
Prior to the events, health awareness messages were broadcast on NBC Radio Western Highlands by Provincial Malaria Supervisor Ms. Salome Minar and Family Health Services Nurse Sr. Laura Kinapu, encouraging residents and locals to participate and receive information and assistance from WHPHA health officials free of charge.
The team were divided into groups; the static health promotion team were stationed at the Highlands Bus Stop while the second team conducted advocacy awareness activities throughout the town and to Kagamuga Airport.
The awareness activities included:
- Health education on malaria prevention
- Information on the benefits of using treated bed nets
- Ways to eliminate mosquito breeding sites
- Information on both communicable and non-communicable diseases and their prevention
- Wellness checks, like blood sugar and blood pressure monitoring
- Condom promotion and distribution
- Cervical cancer screening awareness and promotion
- HPV vaccine promotion
- Nutrition education
- Malaria rapid diagnostic testing and treatment
- Distribution of pamphlets
- HIV and VDRL counselling and testing
- Deworming initiatives and display of market foods from all three food groups.
Health Promotion Officer Ms. Elizabeth Pundu urged the public to get tested for malaria, assuring that those who test positive will receive treatment. She also stressed the importance of immunizing children under five to ensure they grow into healthy, productive citizens.
The event attracted significant public attention, where numerous attendees sought tests for malaria, TB, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and other lifestyle diseases. Among them, three girls aged 9-14 received HPV vaccinations.
Thus far, many participants expressed their appreciation for the information and services received. One attendee, Mamas Kua, a mother and grandmother over 60 years of age, expressed gratitude for receiving information and felt satisfied to know her health status and thanked the WHPHA for the awareness.
The two combined events were a remarkable success, largely attributed to the collaborative efforts between the WHPHA and City Pharmacy Ltd. Throughout the years, CPL has consistently supported WHPHA’s health programs, demonstrating a strong commitment to community
wellbeing.
As part of their support, CPL donated 100 mosquito coils and 10 Mortein sprays to the public.
WHPHA’s acting Chief Executive Officer, Jane Holden, expressed gratitude to City Pharmacy Ltd for its continued support of health initiatives over the years and for stepping up once again this year with their donations.
