National Capital District, Port Moresby 05th June 2025- The National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCDPHA) and the National Department of Health has officially launched the Maternal & Neonatal Tetanus Elimination Campaign (MNTE) in National Capital District (NCD) and Papua New Guinea.

The primary focus of the Tetanus Vaccination rollout is to protect the mothers and newborns in the National Capital District and throughout the country. Despite being labelled as a deadly disease, it is also curable through vaccination.

All provinces in Papua New Guinea are above the risks category and this is a very serious threat to all females between the age of 15-44. All mothers must participate in all the immunization programs provided at the clinic in order to stay protected.

The World Health Organization (WHO) representative Dr Sevil Huseynova said WHO is fully committed to ensuring that all mothers with their child are safe from Tetanus Disease. “Our goal is assisting in the routine immunization campaign for MNTE in NCD and throughout the country as well as other vaccine preventable diseases,” said Dr Huseynova.

The CEO for National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCDPHA) Dr Robin Oge has recognized and acknowledged NDoH, WHO, UNICEF as well as other government sectors. He extends his acknowledgement to Provincial Health Authority CEO’s, members of the media and critically, the frontline health workers. Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus is a tragedy that has no space in the 21st century. It is a disease that is completely preventable, yet it steals the lives of venerable mothers and newborns.

This launch is a collective call to action. Dr Oge said, it signifies our determination to end the suffering and preventable deaths caused by Tetanus with the knowledge and tools we already possess. All mothers and newborns as well as females between the age of 15-44 are urged to visit our 22 clinics in the city for Tetanus vaccine and other vaccination services. “Eliminating Maternal and Neonatal Tetanus in the country required collective effort from all CEOs in the provinces togethers with the support from our partners,” he emphasized.

On behalf of the National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCDPHA), CEO Dr Oge pledged the organization’s commitment to the critical national goal to completely eliminate Tetanus in PNG.