Cholera continues to spread in Papua New Guinea, where government health officials are now describing the disease as a major national public health concern.
– Things are going from bad to worse, Victor Golpak, the government’s national response coordinator for cholera, tells IRINnews.
– This is now a national public health concern. We cannot ignore it any longer. Tragically, the government has not woken up to this fact yet, he said, referring to a lack of funding so far to curtail its spread.
KOSTER MANGE LIV
Since the first case was reported in August 2009, more than 2,000 cases have been confirmed nationwide, the country’s National Department of Health reports.
As of 5 February, 45 people have died.
Much of Momase – one of four areas in the Pacific island nation comprising East Sepik, Madang, Morabe, and West Sepik provinces – is now affected.
There have also been single cases reported in the country’s Eastern Highlands Province, as well as the capital, Port Moresby, in late January.
