Round 1,053 ladies develop cervical most cancers every year in Papua New Guinea (PNG), whereas roughly 650 die from the illness. The nation has the second-highest cervical most cancers incidence and mortality charges within the Pacific area and ranks twelfth globally.
Towards this backdrop, Papua New Guinea acquired its first cargo of 100,000 human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine vials on August 6, in line with UNICEF, marking the beginning of a nationwide rollout to guard ladies in opposition to HPV-related cervical most cancers.
The vaccines had been moved from Denmark to Papua New Guinea with logistics assist from Scan International Logistics and Air Niugini Cargo, with the programme supported by Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, the World Well being Group (WHO) and the Authorities of Papua New Guinea.
An extra 180,000 vials are anticipated, bringing the deliberate provide to 280,000 vials. The primary part of the programme is predicted to start in September 2026, concentrating on roughly 60,000 ladies aged 9 to 14 years throughout two provinces, earlier than increasing to further provinces as vaccine provides and implementation capability enhance.
HPV vaccines. Photograph: WHO / Glenda Gonzales
HPV vaccination is a key element of cervical most cancers prevention. The World Well being Group’s world elimination technique requires 90% of ladies to be totally vaccinated in opposition to HPV by age 15, alongside screening and remedy for ladies with cervical illness. The vaccine protects in opposition to the HPV sorts accountable for most cervical cancers and gives the best safety when administered earlier than publicity to the virus.
Air transport and cold-chain logistics
The motion of the primary cargo highlights the logistics required to move temperature-sensitive vaccines internationally and combine them right into a nationwide immunisation provide chain.
UNICEF is supporting the Authorities of Papua New Guinea with vaccine procurement and supply, cold-chain and provide programs, programme planning and group engagement. Its Provide Division, primarily based in Copenhagen, manages world vaccine procurement and logistics, coordinating the supply of round 3 billion vaccine doses yearly.
Most UNICEF-procured vaccines are transported by air straight from producers to vacation spot international locations. These shipments require temperature-controlled dealing with all through the journey and should attain their vacation spot earlier than expiry.
For the Papua New Guinea operation, Scan International Logistics and Air Niugini Cargo supported the motion of the vaccines from Denmark into the nation. As soon as they arrived, the vaccines had been handed over to the Authorities and positioned in chilly storage.
Photograph: @UNICEFPapuaNewGuinea
“Each lady deserves the prospect to develop up wholesome and protected against a most cancers that may largely be prevented.”
Dr Veera Mendonca, UNICEF
The following phases will see the vaccines transfer by way of Papua New Guinea’s nationwide immunisation provide chain to provincial, district and health-centre storage amenities earlier than being administered by well being staff.
Sustaining the required temperature all through these phases is crucial to preserving vaccine high quality. The operation requires coordination between procurement groups, logistics suppliers, authorities well being authorities and immunisation companions.
With the remaining 180,000 vials anticipated to assist the broader rollout, cold-chain capability, stock administration and dependable distribution will turn out to be more and more vital because the programme expands past its preliminary two provinces.
The operation illustrates how worldwide procurement, air freight, temperature-controlled storage and last-mile distribution underpin vaccination programmes, alongside financing, health-worker coaching and group engagement.
Coordinating the rollout
The Authorities of Papua New Guinea has allotted PGK 6.2 million in its 2026 Nationwide Price range to assist the introduction of the HPV vaccine, with further co-financing from Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance. The Nationwide Division of Well being is main the programme in coordination with the Nationwide Division of Schooling and Provincial Well being Authorities. The World Well being Group (WHO) is offering technical assist for coverage growth, programme planning, health-worker coaching, monitoring and analysis.
UNICEF is supporting vaccine procurement and supply, cold-chain and provide programs, programme planning, and engagement with households and communities. Additionally it is supporting using immunisation information to determine gaps and assist vaccines attain eligible ladies going through boundaries to entry.
Dr Veera Mendonca, Nation Consultant, UNICEF Papua New Guinea, stated, “Each lady deserves the prospect to develop up wholesome and protected against a most cancers that may largely be prevented. The arrival of those HPV vaccines is a vital step, however vaccines solely shield ladies once they attain them safely and on time. For many years, UNICEF has labored alongside the Authorities of Papua New Guinea to strengthen nationwide immunisation programs. From procuring vaccines and strengthening cold-chain programs to planning supply and serving to households entry trusted info, our focus is on supporting well being staff to succeed in each lady, wherever she lives. Robust immunisation programs shield youngsters as we speak and assist construct a more healthy Papua New Guinea for generations to return.”
Logistics past worldwide supply
The arrival of the primary cargo represents just one stage of the vaccine provide chain. Following worldwide transportation, the doses have to be saved, managed and distributed by way of a number of ranges of Papua New Guinea’s well being system.
The nation’s geography and dispersed communities make dependable distribution an vital a part of the rollout. UNICEF is supporting the Authorities with cold-chain and provide programs, programme planning, operational processes and useful resource mobilisation. Information from the rollout may even be reviewed to determine gaps and enhance immunisation companies because the programme expands. As further vaccine provides arrive, the logistics community might want to join nationwide storage with provincial and district amenities and, in the end, well being staff delivering the vaccines to eligible ladies.
Cervical most cancers prevention
The dimensions of the logistics operation displays the general public well being burden the programme is meant to deal with. Cervical most cancers stays one of many main causes of cancer-related deaths amongst ladies in Papua New Guinea.
The nation’s HPV vaccination rollout types a part of a broader method to cervical most cancers elimination that features vaccination, screening, early analysis, remedy and care. For UNICEF and its logistics companions, the fast precedence is guaranteeing that vaccines procured internationally will be moved safely into Papua New Guinea’s well being system and maintained below the required situations till they attain the women focused by the programme.
The article was initially revealed on Logistics Replace Africa.
