Religious leaders are urging people in Papua New Guinea to be vaccinated against COVID-19 when it is their turn and take other protective measures to curb transmission.
In a video recorded by the World Health Organization (WHO), Sir John Cardinal Ribat, the Cardinal of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, said
vaccination and protective measures expressed the Christian commandment for people to love their neighbours.
“His commandment is this: Love Him and love one another. We too need to work, not just Him.
“There are behaviours that they’ve shown us already. Wear a mask, clean your hands with soap and water or hand sanitizer, maintain physical distancing. These are ways to help each other.”
Sir John urged people not to fear the vaccine.
“The vaccine is here for our safety, and also the frontliners. Doctors, health workers, pastors, priests, many people come to us and we meet them all. So these people will be first to be offered the vaccine. Because it will protect them and have
them ready to tend to everyone.
“What made me take the vaccine? My belief in God. It’s something to trust. If God wills it, it will help many people and it will be good.”
So far, more than 91,000 people in Papua New Guinea have had at least one dose of the coronavirus disease vaccine; globally, more than 4.4 billion doses have been given.
WHO’s Acting Representative to Papua New Guinea Ms Anna Maalsen said the support of religious and other leaders in Papua New Guinea was even more crucial after the country reported cases of the more transmissible Delta variant in early August 2021.
The tally of
“It’s likely that the Delta variant will cause surges in cases in Papua New Guinea, as we’ve seen in some other countries.
“So it is heartening that respected faith leaders are giving people confidence that the best way they can protect themselves and others from serious illness and death is to have the safe and effective vaccines that the Government has approved, and
take basic protective measures under the Government’s Niupela Pasin campaign,”
she said.
In June, the Papua New Guinea Council of Churches declared its support for the COVID-19 vaccination programme.
In a statement, the Council of Churches said “…we affirm our support for the COVID-19 vaccination and declare our trust in the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccination as a lifesaving
tool which protects human from severe sickness and death due to COVID-19.”
The Council said it was “the duty of all persons who are eligible for immunization to join our nationwide Sleeves Up Campaign… to protect themselves and their loved ones from severe sickness and death.”
The Council of Churches said many health and essential workers, people with underlying illnesses and older people were not being vaccinated, despite being more at risk. The Council urged the media, communities and key leaders to avoid spreading misinformation
that could endanger millions of lives in the country.
The Council, whose members comprise the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea, the Gutnius Lutheran Church (affiliated with the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod), the Union Baptist, the Roman Catholic Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Papua
New Guinea, the United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands and the Salvation Army, continues to work closely with WHO, UNICEF and other partners, to equip church leaders with information and tools to help their congregations get the
facts about COVID-19 and vaccination.