9 Sep 2009

PNG Health Minister expects state of emergency declaration today

7:24 am on 9 September 2009

The Minister of Health in Papua New Guinea says he expects to have Cabinet approval for a state of emergency in disease hit Morobe Province by today.

Such a move would free up more resources to fight the outbreaks.

Sasa Zibe says yesterday's trip to the province by the Secretary for Health was to help establish Command Posts in both the coastal region where cholera has claimed 11 lives, and a separate Post in Menyamya where shigella bacteria has killed dozens and infected many more.

He says this is a preparatory step ahead of a state of emergency, which some say should have been issued a week ago.

Mr Zibe says the Prime Minister and his Deputy also want it to happen quickly.

"Both of them very much agree that it is very late, that I should have brought up the paper [to the National Executive Council or Cabinet] quickly, so they both are, the Deputy Prime Minister and the Prime Minister are very much in agreement with me for a state of emergency to be declared."