Japan gives facemasks to PNG

 COVID-19 is real and every resident and citizen of this country is urged to adhere to health protocol against this disease.

Deputy Controller for National Pandemic Response Dr Paison Dakulala made this call when receiving a donation of masks from Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

PNG Deputy Controller for National Pandemic Response Dr Paison Dakulala  receiving a donation of masks from Japanese International Cooperation Agency.

He said PNG is the only country in the Ocean region that is experiencing community transmission of COVID-19.

Senior Representative from JICA PNG office Takashin Yokota handed over the facemasks today.

The 25,000 facemasks have been donated to JICA by FANCL Corporation, a private company, under JICA’s volunteer “Smile for All in the World Program’’. 

As of last night, PNG had reported a total confirmed cases of 843 cases in 16 provinces, of which eight were reported within 24 hours.

West New Britain reported the majority which is six cases, while the two came from NCD. 

Currently, provinces with the highest number of cases are NCD with 367, followed by Western Province (214), West New Britain (162), East New Britain (30), New Ireland Province (18), Eastern Highlands (13) and Western Highlands and Central Provinces share the 7th placing with 10 cases each. 

Dr Dakulala said COVID-19 is real. As of today,  a total of 96, 571, 269 COVID-19 cases have been reported in 219 countries with a  confirmed death of 2, 063, 442. 

In PNG, he said the cases are continuing to rise. 

He said health protocols against COVID-19 such as wearing of masks, hand hygiene and cough etiquette and distancing must be adhered to or taken seriously to prevent the further spread of the disease in the country. 

He also thanked JICA and the people of Japan for its continued generousity towards the people of PNG.

Just recently, he said, Japan through its government handed over a large amount of medical equipment to the health facilities in PNG.

Mr Yokota said JICA applauds the National Government for its great efforts against the COVID-19 pandemic ensuring all other health issues apart from COVID-19 are addressed accordingly. 

“Our efforts to flatten the curve has united us and encouraged  teamwork and cooperation between countries around the globe to fight against common issues.”

He said it is with this common issue that JICA was pleased to donate 25,000 masks to NDoH on behalf of FANCL Corporation. 

FANCL Corporation is a cosmetic and dietary supplement  company. 

JICA’s “Smile for All in the World” Program collects items   requested by groups in countries or locations where JICA volunteers work. These items are collected from citizens in  Japan and sent to the locations through the program.

“It is more than donating items; it is special because it enables  Japanese citizens to participate intimately in international  cooperation as donors of items,’’ said Mr Yokota. 

Meanwhile, JICA Volunteers have been in Japan during the COVID-19 pandemic and they are gradually making their way back to PNG to continue their work in various programs. 

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