St John extends service to Kubalia

THE St John Ambulance has extended its services to more than 8,000 people of Kubalia in East Sepik province.
Last week, the association’s trainer Roslyn Kila from St John Ambulance in Port Moresby was at Kubalia station, where she conducted emergency first-aid training.
More than 40 participants including men, women and public servants in Kubalia attended the training, which was viewed as of very significant importance, especially when it comes to treating emergency cases where formal health services are not available.
The district’s health centre does not have a qualified medical officer. Thus, all cases are being attended by community health workers, who sometimes cannot handle emergency and complicated cases.
The district’s local level government manager Dominic Huaiari said the first aid training was a must for the people because when faced with an emergency case the people should already know what to do first to save the patient before seeking medical treatment at the nearest health facility.
He said Kubalia was privileged to be the first district outside of Wewak to be introduced to the services of St John Ambulance.
Mr Huaiari said his office would support the association should funds be made available by the Government.
St John Ambulance Kubalia divisional superintendent Pius Sua thanked Mrs Kila for taking the challenge of travelling to an isolated location in the Sepik plains to conduct the training for volunteers.
Mrs Kila will be in Wewak this week, where she will conduct a series of similar training before leaving for Port Moresby on Saturday.