In response to the re-emergence of polio in Papua New Guinea, Australia has supported vaccinations to all children under-15 along the Kokoda Track.
The oral polio vaccination campaign has been conducted as part of regular Kokoda Initiative health patrols across the Sogeri and Kokoda catchments. Vaccinations were delivered by government and church health staff with the support of community health workers and village health volunteers.
Nearly 9,000 vaccinations were administered in 76 villages during the first round in October, achieving the 100 per cent coverage target set by the Provincial Health Authority. A second round of vaccinations is underway this month.
Every year the Kokoda Initiative supports government health patrols to all 91 villages in Kokoda, Mt Koiari and Sogeri catchments, maintaining over 80 per cent full immunisation coverage for all children under four years of age. As a result, Kokoda Track communities enjoy among the highest rates of childhood immunisation in the country.
The Kokoda Initiative is a long-standing partnership between Australia and Papua New Guinea that supports remote villages along the Kokoda Track to provide better access to quality health and education.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100
One-year-old Simeon David receives his second round of polio vaccine in Central Province.