Australia Helps PNG Fight Yaws as One Million Antibiotic Tablets Reach Vanimo

 Australia has helped Papua New Guinea strengthen its fight against yaws with the delivery of one million azithromycin tablets to Vanimo for use in the country’s mass drug administration campaign.

The medicines were transported from Lae to Vanimo through an airlift led by the PNG Defence Force with support from an Australian Defence aircraft, helping move the donated antibiotics to communities where they are needed.

Australia Helps PNG Fight Yaws as One Million Antibiotic Tablets Reach Vanimo/Photo supplied

Yaws is an infectious disease that mainly affects the skin but can also damage the bones and joints. Children are among those most commonly affected, although the disease can be effectively treated with a single dose of antibiotics.

The large consignment was provided by EMS Brazil through the World Health Organization (WHO) to support PNG’s efforts to eliminate yaws and improve access to treatment for affected communities.

The delivery also highlights the cooperation between Australia and PNG in supporting public health programmes, with the Australian Government working alongside the National Department of Health, WHO, EMS Brazil, PNG Defence Force and Vanimo Provincial Health Authority.

The partnership is expected to help health authorities reach more families with treatment and strengthen efforts to control and eventually eliminate yaws in PNG.

The latest airlift demonstrates how regional cooperation can help deliver essential medicines to communities that may otherwise face challenges in accessing critical health supplies.