PNG backtracks

Update

PNG backtracks over vital malaria research

By Sam Vulum

PAPUA New Guineans’ future protection against one of the country’s lead ing killer diseases, malar ia, is under serious threat.

The government, which can afford to allocate thousands of kina in “slush funds” to MPs and other “ambitious” projects under the 1999 budget, could not do the same for an institution engaged in vital research work for a malaria vaccine in the country.

The Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research was carrying out vital tests to determine the effects of the vaccine.

It was doubtful whether it would have the money to come up with the results of the tests that were expected some time this year.

The research institute was among 14 other government institutions and statutory authorities set to be abolished in the 1999 budget as a cost-saving measure under pub lic sector reforms.

After increased publicity surrounding

the issue, the government rescinded the decision to abolish the institute. However, the institute does not have a specific alloca tion in the budget for 1999 and will be granted instead funding on a reduced level.

Institute director Dr Michael Alpers, described the government’s decision as a tragedy and immoral. “It is very important that we continue this work. We hope it will be a benefit to the people in this country”.

Commenting immediately after the decision was announced in November 1998, Dr Alpers told the Post-Courier that the institute’s activities would be jeopar dised. The most pressing was the malaria vaccine research. Dr Alpers said PNG was the only developing country involved in

carrying out research work on a malaria vaccine.

He said the vaccine was tested on children between the ages of five and 10 in 1997 and had proven to be safe. The results of further tests have now been threat ened because of zero funding for the institute in 1999.

He expressed grave dis appointment that the institute was not consulted by the government on its decision.

In a statement to PIM in December, he said the insti tute and others still did not have funding for 1999.

Dr Alpers said that a spe cific submission was accept ed by PNG’s cabinet for the institute to not be abolished, retaining its legal entity as a statutory body. In the recent decision, the institute was to receive core funding for its recurrent activities in 1999, at a somewhat reduced level to 1998.

Dr Alpers said that while additional political support was being brought to bear in favour of the institute and its continued activities, further comment on the implications of the original budget, con cerning the malaria research programme in particular, would be out of place.

“That will have to wait for a future date when these events can be viewed with a wider historical perspec tive,” he said. ■