Vaccine patch offers pain-free way to stop disease in Papua New Guinea

The Guardian Blog

Nanopatches that can be self-administered – and even put in the post – could transform infectious disease prevention. 

The "nanopatch" is about a square centimetre in size, it administers a minute, needle-free vaccine dose to a person's skin, dramatically reduces costs and needs neither to be administered by trained medical staff nor to be refrigerated. 

But Professor Mark Kendall, a former Oxford rocket scientist turned bioengineer at the University of Queensland in Australia, is cautious about the prospects for what many are hoping could revolutionise infectious disease prevention in developing countries, where around 17 million people die from avoidable diseases each year.

"It has many advantages. It is pain-free, very low cost and could be self-administered. It could be posted to people as it needs no skill to administer. Where [some vaccines] cost $50 (£31) each, this could reduce the cost to $1," he says.

The traditional syringe and needle vaccination, which has barely changed since it was invented in 1853, has big disadvantages, he says. It injects the vaccine into the muscle, which has few immune cells; it needs a relatively large shot of vaccine, and it poses problems with needle contamination and disposal.

So far, his research team has tested vaccine patches against influenza, human papillomavirus (HPV) and even malaria on mice. "The patch uses an applicator to place a very small dose of vaccine directly on the skin where immune cells are most abundant. We do not understand fully why it works so well [but] we do know it works fantastically well on animals. If we can translate that to humans … it could potentially change the world of vaccinations. But we still have a very long way to go," he says.

The great hope is that in the event of a pandemic, these patches could be posted to thousands or even millions of people because they don't need refrigeration and can be self-administered.

Kendall has just returned from Papua New Guinea (PNG), which has the highest incidence of HPV – a virus that can lead to cervical cancer, which is a leading cause of death in young women in developing countries. He took three prototypes of the patch and these were given to local healthcare workers to apply to hospital patients.

The success of the trials means the team may be able to fasttrack full clinical trials on humans next year, Kendall says. The first would be carried out in his home city of Brisbane, followed up in PNG. Even so, he says, it could take 10 years before the nanopatch is on the market.

Kendall, whose team has a three-year research contract with drug company Merck, has been awarded $100,000 by Rolex, specifically to enable poorer countries to take advantage of the development at the same time as wealthier countries. "The natural pattern of a development like this would be to concentrate on developed countries, with developing countries eventually seeing it. The award means we can work on them both in parallel," he says.

West Papuan refugees hope for PNG citizenship

Jakarta Globe

 Access to citizenship could prove the best hope yet for thousands of West Papuan refugees living in Papua New Guinea.

“I want citizenship. I’ve been here 28 years and want to get on with my life,” said Donatus Karuri, a 57-year-old father of six, outside the shelter he shares with five other families at the Hohola refugee settlement. It is one of four settlements for West Papuan refugees in the capital Port Moresby.

Donatus Karuri, a 57-year-old father-of-six, outside the Hohola refugee settlement — one of four settlements for West Papuan refugees — in the capital Port Moresby. There are close to 9,300 West Papuan refugees in the country. (IRIN Photo/David Swanson)

 Like most West Papuan refugees, he is unable to work legally and has only limited access to public services.

 According to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), there are more than 9,000 West Papuan refugees in PNG today, many of whom have been in the Pacific island nation for over three decades.

 Others know no other home and can’t imagine living anywhere else.

 “I was born here. This is the only country I know,” said Dan Hanasbey, 27, another refugee wanting citizenship.

Flight From Indonesia

Between 1984 and 1986, more than 11,000 West Papuans fled east into PNG from the western, Indonesian half of New Guinea Island to escape political turmoil and economic discontent; the area’s longstanding secessionist sentiments towards Jakarta continue to simmer today.

 West Province, a former Dutch colony rich in natural resources, was later divided into two separate provinces — Papua and West Papua — however, indigenous West Papuans continue to refer to the entire Indonesian area as West Papua.

 At the time the refugees arrived, the PNG government was not yet a signatory to the 1951 Refugee Convention. It granted the West Papuans prima facie refugee status shortly after accession to the convention in 1986 — but with seven reservations, including Article 34 on naturalization.

 Of the close to 9,300 West Papuan refugees in PNG today, almost half live along the border area with Indonesia.

 Another 2,435 live in urban areas, while 2,290 live in East Awin, the only officially sanctioned area for West Papuan refugees to settle. There, regular assistance is available and access to 6,000 hectares of government land is provided — about 120 kilometers from the Indonesian border. The site was established in an effort to resettle the refugees away from the border areas to avoid possible political problems with the Indonesian government.

 Those who resettle in the area for six months are provided permissive residency permits (PRPs), which allow them certain rights, including the right to work and travel internally (excluding border areas), and gives them access to health and education services.

 Few refugees, however, wish to resettle in East Awin, preferring instead to stay close to the border area and their land and families on the other side. Others frown upon its remote jungle location and inaccessibility.

 The government estimates only 40 percent of West Papuan refugees hold PRPs. As a result, most survive on subsistence farming — particularly in the border area. Those in urban settings live on private or government land, under constant risk of eviction, and often work illegally.

The Cost of Citizenship

Despite these challenges, many West Papuans — who share a similar Melanesian ancestry to Papua New Guineans — have integrated well in this nation of 7.3 million and would like to stay.

 “Local integration with the opportunity to be granted PNG citizenship is the best solution for many West Papuan refugees under the current circumstances,” Walpurga Englbrecht, UNHCR country representative for PNG, told IRIN.

 “The problem, however, is the application fee is too high.”

 Under PNG law, any foreigner — including refugees — wishing to apply to citizenship and who has fulfilled eight years of residency must pay a 10,000 kina ($5,000) application fee.

 “We can’t afford that. It’s impossible,” Freddy Warome, 58, a West Papuan community leader, complained.

 Under Article 34 of the Refugee Convention, signatory states should facilitate the assimilation and naturalisation of refugees, and make every effort to expedite naturalisation and reduce the costs as far as possible.

 To date, the PNG government appears mindful of this responsibility, but it remains unclear when they might act upon it.

 Speaking at a 2011 ministerial meeting to mark the 60th anniversary of the Refugee Convention, Moses Manwau, PNG’s former vice minister for foreign affairs and immigration, confirmed the government’s commitment to withdrawing its earlier reservations to the Convention, and to waiving all fees or introducing nominal fees for refugees seeking naturalization.

 “We are determined to give refugees the kind of life, liberty, peace and prosperity they deserve so that they can hold their own against any other citizens in Papua New Guinea,” he said.

UNHCR believes there should be a path to citizenship for those who desire it, while those West Papuans lacking PRPs who would like to remain in the country should be provided PRPs without having to relocate to East Awin, Englbrecht said.

IRIN

Xstrata ups Papua New Guinea mine cost estimate

(Reuters) - Xstrata (XTA.L) has raised its capital spending estimate for the undeveloped Frieda River copper mine in Papua New Guinea by $300 million to $5.6 billion, as costs to develop new mines continue to escalate.
Xstrata Copper delivered a feasibility study to minority partner Highlands Pacific (HIG.AX) on Friday that indicated the $5.6 billion capital cost estimate, Paul Gow, general manager of the Frieda River project, said in a statement.
Rising costs have forced many miners to review the spending required on greenfield copper projects as they battle over a limited pool of skilled workers and equipment, particularly in remote locations like Papua New Guinea.
Antofagasta (ANTO.L) on Friday halted development at its $1.7 billion Chilean copper mine Antucoya as it reviews escalating costs, and Xstrata put back a target to start production at the Tampakan copper-gold mine in the Philippines by three years to 2019 earlier this month.
Xstrata had estimated the Frieda River project to cost $5.3 billion when it released an earlier study two years ago.
The company, with an 81.8 percent stake in Frieda River, sees the mine yielding 304,000 tonnes of copper at an average cost of 71 U.S. cents per pound over the first five years.
Over the entire life of the operation, it sees an average yield of 204,000 tonnes annually at a cost of $1.11 per pound.
Xstrata is expected to review its pipeline of copper projects after its takeover by Glencore International (GLEN.L).
The company is following the course of other mega miners, including BHP Billiton (BHP.AX) (BLT.L) and Rio Tinto (RIO.AX) (RIO.L), in conserving capital amid uncertainty over global growth and falling commodity prices.
Earlier this year, Xstrata flagged its willingness to potentially sell all or part of its stake in Frieda River after conducting a review of its operations worldwide.
It said on Monday it had not made a decision yet on whether to divest or partially divest the project at this stage.
"Xstrata is currently assessing the interest of other investors in the project but declines to comment about potential timetables," a company spokesman said in an email.
Highlands Pacific said discussions were planned next year to determine future ownership of the project.
"During 2013 we will hold discussions with all parties, including the PNG government to determine the project's development path and the desire of the PNG government to take up a direct 30 percent equity stake in the project," it said.
Via its Petromin investment arm, PNG has invested in 17 projects, including a $19 billion liquefied natural gas field under construction by Exxon Mobil (XOM.N).
It is allowed to take up to 30 percent of mining and 22 percent of oil and gas projects, which it must then help fund.
Exxon Mobil in November said it faces a $3.3 billion spike in costs at its gas project in Papua New Guinea.
This year BHP scrapped an $80 billion spending plan, which included delaying indefinitely the expansion of its Olympic Dam copper mine in Australia, where analysts estimated costs had ballooned three-fold to more than $30 billion in just two years.
Shares in Xstrata were trading 1.1 percent higher at 1,062 pence by 1206 GMT, outperforming a flat FTSE 100 index .FTSE.

Air Niugini Dash 8 in Christmas Day drama

By MALUM NALU

An Air Niugini Dash 8 aircraft, P2-PXI,  experienced an engine defect whilst returning from Bulolo, Morobe province this morning.

 Air Niugini said prior to descending into Port Moresby, P2-PXI’s number one engine experienced an overheating condition.

 “The pilot in command then applied Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and landed the aircraft safely in Port Moresby,” Air Niugini said in a Christmas Day statement.

“ Both passengers and the crew are safe.

 “As a further action in line with any airline safety management, all Air Niugini Dash 8 aircraft are now being inspected prior to their next commercial service.

 “As a result of this additional safety measure, there may be some delays and disruptions to scheduled flights today and tomorrow.

 “P2-PXI’s engine will be sent to an engine shop for complete investigation and the outcome will be made known in 90 days time.”

 Air Niugini management acknowledged Captain Andrew Runting, First Officer Karol Kutan and the cabin crew on board PX 713 for their professionalism in managing the incident in line with the standard operating procedures.

 “Air Niugini apologises for the inconvenience caused but reassures our valued customers that safety is always of paramount importance in Air Niugini’s operations.”

 Morobe Mining Joint Ventures spokesman, David Wissink, said: “Hidden Valley Joint Venture is quite appreciative of the skills of the Air Niugini pilots who were able to land the aircraft safety in Port Moresby.”

 The aircraft operated flight PX 712 to Bulolo yesterday and stayed overnight.

 Air Niugini reported no defect on arrival and the departure of PX 713 out of Bulolo this morning.

 The airline has an aircraft engineer positioned in Bulolo to handle post and pre-flight requirements.
 The aircraft was reportedly filled with thick smoke as soon as it touched down on the runway at about 7.30am.
Thick smoke was coming out from the engine, but fortunately the pilot and crew members quickly applied their skills to, while the passengers were rushed out into the terminal unharmed.

Charity copycats cash in on donors

By Rory Callinan in Illawarra Mercury

Dec. 24, 2012, 3 a.m.

 

SECOND-HAND clothing exporters are taking millions of dollars away from big charities by mimicking their appeals and using donation bins and collections, only for the contents to be sold overseas for profit.

The appeals imply the goods will go to the poor or be recycled.
A Fairfax Media investigation has found the businesses have sophisticated networks of bins and mount slick campaigns by putting in letterboxes plastic bags featuring charity-style slogans or photos of children in Third World countries.
To stay within the law, some include a small-print declaration that they are commercial operators but charities fear consumers are tricked into donating because they do not read the fine print. Others use collection bags for fake charities.
They time campaigns to coincide with peak donation times such as before Christmas.
The donated clothing and shoes, often designer brands, is usually sorted outside Australia using cheap labour and sold in the Middle East, Africa, the Pacific and Asia.
This financial year 15,000 tonnes of used clothing were exported, raking in millions of dollars, according to international trade data seen by Fairfax.
Earnings are difficult to track but an unfair dismissal case involving one of the companies in Queensland in 2003 discussed a container of ''virgin stock'' clothing exported to Papua New Guinea as worth about $15,000.
Some of the trade originates from genuine charities onselling clothing they cannot give to the poor but it is now believed a big proportion is coming from commercial collectors.
''The losses to charities are in the tens of millions,'' said the chief executive of the National Association of Charitable Recycling Organisations, Kerryn Caulfield. ''It's taking stock away from charities, it skews the lines of governance, puts doubt in the minds of the community and impacts on the employment opportunities for people with disabilities in these charities.''
This month Fairfax Media found a commercial operator putting pink plastic bags seeking clothing donations for ''low-income families'' or Papua New Guinea ''tribespeople'' in letterboxes in north-eastern NSW.
The bags were for a second-hand clothing exporter whose director has links to a big second-hand shop and an international operation in Victoria that exports to more than eight countries. The bags carried the words, ''We need your help'', and sought clothing donations.
The small print confirmed the bag was being used by a commercial recycler. Phone numbers on the bag rang through to the PNG Recycling Centre. A website noted on the bag, www.bringthepinkbagtoschool.com.au, offers to pay schools for used clothing. The website contains an image of a collection bag showing the word cancer.
The website is registered by PNG Recycled Clothing Centre, a private company in Brisbane. The directors and shareholders are George William Doonan and Chris Kopyoto.
Mr Doonan is listed in company records as a co-director of the second-hand clothing export business Supreme Textile.
In 2001 Consumer Affairs Victoria took Supreme Textile to court for breaching fund-raising appeals legislation for raising money for a charity without the charity's permission. A Consumer Affairs spokesman said Supreme Textile had been ordered to stop fund-raising and pay about $980 in costs.
Peter Higgins, the group operations manager of Lifeline Retail in the northern rivers, the area targeted by the pink bags, said commercial exporters were ''gobbling up the market at no benefit to the local community''.
Mr Doonan said his was a commercial operation that shipped all clothing to people in PNG, most of whom were on low incomes.
He said the use of the word cancer on the website had been put in by a website designer from another site and would be corrected.
He rejected the charities' criticism of his operation and said his business gave away 35 per cent of production and had made substantial donations to charities since 1991.
''Papua New Guineans are in need of clothes and only commercial operators such as ourselves fill this need. No charity ships clothing to PNG to give away,'' he said.
''There is a need in our society for responsible recyclers like ourselves. In many areas clothing recycling is not done and the goods end up at the tip.
''Most charities I know of run shops selling the best of the clothing and either dump the rest or sell it to private operators like ourselves.'' He said he did not recall the incident involving Supreme Textile and Victorian

Consumer Affairs. ''We definitely were not fined or given any penalty. Can you give me more information so I can respond.''
Mr Doonan said many operators needed to be exposed. ''You are only touching the tip of the iceberg.''
Fairfax Media has found examples of private businesses using either fraudulent means to collect free clothing or carefully worded appeals that imply donations will go to the needy. Examples of fraudulent bag collections were recorded in Victoria in August and, in Perth, consumer affairs authorities have cracked down on an operator who had more than 150 bins.

Air Niugini adds two new aircraft to fleet

By EMMANUEL MAIPE

Air Niugini flight services has been further enhanced with the addition of two new aircraft to its fleet to meet customer demand and additional routes. 

The new B737 given the traditional hose down. - Nationalpics by EKAR KEAPU

Last Friday saw the arrival of these two latest additions, the Boeing 737 (B737) 800 Series and the Dash 8 Q400 Series, which arrived to a warm welcome at the Jackson International Airport in Port Moresby.

The new Q400 given the traditional hose down.

Air Niugini board chairman,  Garth McIlwain,  said the latest additions would go towards providing better service to the increasing number of passengers traveling with the airline and servicing the additional domestic and international routes.

McIlwain flanked by Prime Minister Peter O’Neil, ministers Byron Chan and Don Polye,  and NCD Governor Powes Parkop cutting the ribbon to welcome the new aircraft.

 “The numbers of routes have also increased to 25 for the domestic and 10 international destinations,” he said.

 “The passengers we carry has also increased from 789, 904 to an estimated 1.5 million people this year, over a million of these are domestic passengers.”   

 McIlwain was pleased with the current growth and expansion of the airline which he said reflected the commitment of its board and management to meet the ever-increasing demands of a country which was rapidly growing.

 “As Papua New Guinea progresses into a period of even stronger economic growth, the challenges also increase and Air Niugini is positioning itself to meet these challenges,” he said.

 McIlwain said domestic services would be even better with the airport facilities in the country in a good state to allow for more night flights.

 “Appropriate authorities are well aware of these constraints and Air Niugini’s board and management are also aware of these efforts by the authorities to improve performance.”

 The arrival of the two new aircraft has also double the airlines fleet to 25 aircraft currently with two more to come towards the end of the year.

 This year alone, the airline has acquired a total of six aircraft including two B737s, a Q400 and a Dash 8- 200 series.