Although Gordons Clinic here in the Nation’s Capital did not carry out any programs in-line with the World Immunization Week that falls on the 24th-30 April, health staff made sure that their normal immunization programs at the clinic continued.
According to Gordons Clinic Officer in Charge for Family Planning Sr Eda Ratu, their normal routine immunization, runs from Monday to Friday according to the review dates.
“We get about 100-150 mothers a week who bring in their babies to be vaccinated, which is really good because they are aware of the diseases caused by unvaccinated babies, that’s why, it is a must that all babies must complete their immunization,” she said.
Apart from their normal immunization and awareness carried out at the clinic, they also talk about family planning and why it is important for a mother to know how to plan their families, so that she is able to bring in her baby at the right time to be vaccinated.
She said, “all mothers or parents must plan their families so that they will have a good number of children which they plan for.”
“Especially here in PNG, it’s a common case where mothers have too many children and are not able to bring in their babies for immunization just because they are too tired and they don’t complete their routine immunization.”
Sr Ratu stressed on the importance of awareness on family planning and routine immunization.
She said hospitals, clinics, health centers and Aid Posts must ensure on making awareness on these because these two always come hand-in-hand.
Meanwhile, the Clinic has seen a lot of parents who have brought in their children aged 5 years and below because of the flu virus.
Sr Ratu said, it’s an everyday case for them at the center to treat and advise mothers on the best steps to take to care for their children.
Currently, the clinical staff are encouraging parents to ensure that babies less than 1 year must be kept warm at all times and to stay away from dust.
“For babies 3 months and above who are experiencing flu like symptoms, they can be steamed with herbs and given Panadol to treat fever symptoms. Children 1-5 years and below must be taken care of properly to avoid contracting serious diseases/sicknesses,” said Sr Ratu.
She further stated that, if parents take care of their babies properly at an early age by doing home remedies and taking them for their routine immunization, this will help reduce diseases that are commonly caused by not getting those immunizations.
Sr Ratu is urging parents to bring in their babies quickly to the clinics if they come across any signs of their babies having very high fever, shortness of breath, diarrhea or not breast-feeding well.