Mayor Ulrich urges Vila citizens to take pill against Trachoma

Ulrich Sumptoh, Lord Mayor of Port Vila, has appealed to all citizens of Port Vila to participate in the Mass Drug Administration (MDA) campaign against Trachoma and to take the pill to keep them safe against Trachoma, a disease of the eye.

“I think this campaign comes especially for us the 60,000 who live in Port Vila and the campaign is very important for the citizens of Port Vila,” he implored citizens of the capitol city.

He was speaking at the launch of the Trachoma MDA campaign at the Port Vila Market on Friday afternoon by the Minister of Health, Toara Daniel Kalo, in the presence of the ministry’s partners — World Health Organization and Fred Hallows Foundation and the people at the market house then.

He urged the people to listen carefully and to do that what the MoH people are telling them to do regarding the MDA campaign.

The Mayor recalled similar campaigns in the past when health ministry staff advised the people to take drug against certain illnesses and when they were giving the awareness and advice, he said some people would not listen and moved away. They did not want to take the drug.

“Where are our families today who reacted like that way?” he asked.

“They are no longer with us. When the Ministry of Health comes and gives us awareness, we must listen to them.

“When they say we take a pill against a disease, I think we must all take this responsibility to follow their advice and take the pill.

“On this particular sick, it is good for us to take good advice on it because they say that if you do not take this medicine and you contract and disease you are likely to go blind.

“And if you go blind you cannot go to your garden, and if you go blind you cannot come to the market, then you cannot earn a living to sustain your family and you cannot have the ability that you have today to support the economy of the country.

“That is why when the Ministry of Health comes to advise us, it is for the good of this country. And who is going to move the economy of this country forward? It is you and I. But our life and good health is foremost. We must make sure we are healthy before we can talk about this country,” the Lord Mayor of Port Vila encouraged his citizens.

Then he applauded the Minister of Health, Toara Daniel Kalo, DG of Health George Taleo and public health staff of the ministry, for choosing Port Vila Market House to launch the MDA campaign against Trachoma.

The drug that everyone in the country will be expected to take is acid thromyzin. It is a strong drug that not only kills off the bacteria causing trachoma, but also reduces other sicknesses such as diarrhea, STIs and yaws, the Ministry of Health says.