Papua New Guinea. Yaws problems assessed.

The present status of yaws in Papua New Guinea cannot be determined because of the lack of data. Because yaws was deemed under control as a result of the nationwide total mass treatment campaign in the late 1950s and limited regional effort in the late 1970s, the health department lost interest in yaws and pursued other diseases. Individual reports from certain areas of Papua New Guinea have provided the only information on yaws since 1978. These reports concentrated on outbreaks on Karkar Island in the Madang Province and indicated the possibility of a recurrence of yaws. It was not until early 1984, when further reports became available from other provinces in the country, that the national health department renewed its interest in yaws. Monthly reports are currently being collected from hospitals, health centres, and aid posts throughout the country. This effort was started in 1984, however, and no conclusions are available. The initiation of a nationwide survey seems inevitable at this stage. For this to be made possible, capital and appropriate manpower are needed.