BY DONALD HOOK

THE AUSTRALIAN government’s aid agency AusAID says there are underlying health and sanitation issues which the PNG and provincial governments must address before cholera can be again eradicated.

In response to questions from PNG Attitude, AusAID says cholera seems to be endemic in PNG at present.

Latest reports from the Western Province say 300 people have died from cholera-like symptoms while 2,700 others were affected in the recent outbreak that began on Daru Island, the administrative headquarters of the province, and moved westward.

The situation on Daru itself appears to have stabilised and the number of people attending the provincial hospital continues to decline.

AusAID says it is working closely with the PNG Department of Health and the Cholera Response Committee, which has been meeting daily to monitor the outbreak and coordinate the response.

Australian government-sponsored aircraft have carried essential supplies to Daru, including medicines, water purification tablets, oral rehydration salts, marquees and health promotion pamphlets.

Australia’s support to the PNG government since cholera outbreaks began in 2009 totals $2.7 million.

Funding also has been provided to the Australian Red Cross to provide an emergency clean drinking supply system for Daru, and to undertake a community health promotion program.

There is further funding for a recently approved project to provide clean water for the future to villages along the coast of PNG adjacent to the Torres Strait.