By HAIVETA KIVIA
DONOR agencies and non-governmental organisations have been urged to employ experts in the field of disease control.
Morobe provincial health adviser Dr Likei Theo said this when welcoming the recent advertisements for position vacancies by World Vision, World Health Organisation (WHO) and HOPE International in the dailies.
These organisations have advertised for health and social science experts for positions in disease control, logistics, monitoring and evaluation.
He said it was good to see donor agencies and NGOs coming in to help combat and minimise HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria.
But, he said he wanted these organisations to employ experts, particularly in disease control.
‘To build Morobe’s capacity in monitoring and evaluation and managing and sustaining the programmes, experts are needed,” he said.
Dr Theo’s call was supported by Lae district acting Disease Control officer Sr Siling Awasa.
She said this concern was also voiced by the newly formed Lae district HIV/AIDS Committee and nursing personnel.
“These are people coming to assist us improve or teach us how best we can run disease control programmes. Therefore, they have to be competent,” she said.
Sr Awasa said the district was doing a quality job but needs better funding and logistical support.
“We need good laboratories, microscopes and good transportation to effectively carry out our duties.”
Dr Theo said NGOs, which have sourced funding from Global Funding, would bring microscope, technicians and necessary reagent to help raise the capacity of the programmes in the province.