By ZACHERY PER
DESPITE the appalling rural infrastructure impeding efficient basic services deliveries, the Health Division in Eastern Highlands province has resorted to other options to bring basic health care closer to the people.
This follows an agreement reached during the annual provincial health division performance review in Goroka last week.
Director of Eastern Provincial Health Division Ben Haili said they would not accept health workers blaming the deteriorating transport infrastructures and other impediments for not delivering basic health services to the rural people.
“We are encouraging health workers to use their legs to walk and cross rivers and streams to where the people are to deliver health services they deserve,” he said.
He revealed efficient services flow had been affected by the appalling rural transport network, lack of communication facilities, law and order and collapsing health centres and aid post buildings.
Mr Haili said the review included presentations on performances of health establishments in the province for this year based on their achievements, weaknesses and constraints for further advancements and improvements.
He said they also used the opportunity to plan for a special immunisation activity (SIA) to be implemented in the eight districts of the province next year.
Mr Haili said quarterly and annual review of performances was required under the 10-year National Health Plan 2001-2010.
Deputy Eastern Highlands provincial administrator Solomon Tato, who closed the review last Thursday, applauded the division as one the best performing divisions of the provincial government.
He assured of continued Government support to the health sector.
Awards were also presented for best performing facilities in each districts and best presenter at the review.
Okapa district nursing officer Komanasa Korito won the best presenter while the best performing facility went to Kassam (Obura-Wonenara), Yauna (Kainantu), Okapa Health Centre (Okapa), Gouno Health Centre (Lufa), Kompri (Henganofi), Ungai Sub-Health Centre (Ungai-Bena), Kama Clinic (Goroka) and Asaro Health Centre (Daulo).
Dr Gregroy Maino, one of the longest serving staff, who is leaving to take up a new position as technical adviser oral health within the National Health Department, was farewelled during the occasion.
Jimi MP Wake Goi, who was a dedicated former member of the health board representing the church health services in the province, was also farewelled.
Mr Lomai said: “Unless and until all stakeholders and the communities at large support this move in research and educate people, the misconception of intellectual property rights will continue to exist.”
In support of the need for awareness and research, Secretary for the Constitutional Law & Reform Commission Dr Lawrence Kalione said that intellectual property was knowledge driven, and education is a critical to aspect of it.
He said the area was broad-based with the need for focused education and training in intellectual property.
“Administration and enforcement is important for developing a pool of practitioners who will then drive the work of IP offices and universities that will further drive education, training and research in the country,” Dr Kalione said.
He said that it was important that the educators had to design and teach programmes which were relevant and reflective of the intellectual property concerning PNG.