Trial Gardasil Cancer Vaccination in Kimbe a Failure for Papua New Guinea

Cervical cancer is a major threat to the female population of the country but the required vaccination to prevent the disease is yet to be implemented in the country.

The trial Gardasil Cancer Vaccination conducted in West New Britain through World Health Organisation by Axious Healthcare Development was described as failed by the National Department of Health and the Special Parliamentary Committee hearing into the Health Service delivery in PNG.

Rural Health Officer of Kendrian Hospital Dr. Yvonne Sapuri told the special parliamentary committee on Tuesday that the girls between the ages of 9-13 were supposed to receive three vaccinations each but on the third round, only 719 vaccinations were left.

According to a report presented by Dr. Sapuri, the first vaccination was given to 17,256 girls while the second vaccination was given to 14, 872 but on the third round, there were not enough vaccination.

Dr. sapuri said despite the cost of purchasing the vaccination, it is very important to prevent cervical cancer by vaccinating girls at an early age.

Special Parliamentary Committee member and Northern Governor Garry Juffa who was unpleased with the lack of support given to the pilot program by the Department of Health said that efforts should have been made to promote the vital trial of the Gardasil vaccination.

“In such a situation here, there should be some sense of urgency here by the relevant authorities. Every day there are women dying of cancer somewhere in the country but people don’t seem to care. The failed trial in Kimbe will now affect the whole country,” said Juffa.

Committee chairman and Goroka MP, Bire Kimisopa expressed similar dissatisfaction over the situation as US$7Million was funded for the trial program that was now considered as failed.

“That’s the kind of money given to us free, roughly about K20Million which the Health Department did not have. It’s very disappointing and grieving situation especially when it would have a duplicated effect in the country that could have saved so many lives of our mothers and daughters. It’s a pity we did not see the importance of such a program,”

However, the Health Department Secretary, Pasco Kase said the department will roll out a similar vaccination program early this year.

Mr Kase said the trial pilot project in Kimbe could not be backed by the Department of Health because CEO of a local Kimbe hospital Dr. Victor Golpek did not seek approval from the department before rolling out the program.

Mr Kase added that before vaccinations are given out, the department had to test the vaccines for verifications but no sort of arrangement was done with them and as such they could not support the program.

 Nevertheless, Kase agreed that the pilot project was a failure and assured the committee that the upcoming vaccination program would be rolled out throughout the country.

Special arliamentary Committee members; Obura-Wonenara MP Mehrra Kipefa, Northern Governor Garry Juffa, Rural Health Officer of Kendrian Hospital Dr. Yvonne Sapuri and Committee Chairman and Goroka MP, Bire Kimisopa.