10,000 patients treated

A TOTAL of 10,435 sick persons were treated at the Mega Health Clinic in Togoba, Western Highlands, in a span of four days last week.
Clinic chairman Benson Safi said the persons received treatments on cataract surgery, optometry, heart diseases, dental services, general medical checkup, massage and chiropractic and many attended the women’s wellness clinic.
“Dental checkups, extractions, fillings were done, and more than 4,000 glasses were given for people who had eye problems,” Safi added.
All treatment and equipment were free of charge.
Safi said on the first day, 800 persons received medicines from the dispensary and it doubled to 1,600 on the next day.
“People came as of 4am and stood in line and waited for us,” he said.
“The place was packed all week.
“Some were turned away because time had caught up with us.”
He said people turned up from as far as East New Britain, the National Capital District, all the other provinces in the Highlands, and even the Autonomous Region of Bougainville.
Safi said the persons not only received medical care but had counselling sessions with the chaplains and pastor who were present and had prayer sessions too.
In the Highlands, Dr Waimbe Wahume, an eye specialist, has been able to perform 10 cataract surgeries on a daily basis, but visiting eye specialist Dr Prabnakar Jacob could do up to 400 surgeries in one day, with the help of technology.
“Dr Jacob had a special machine that helps him,” Safi said.
He said some of the international missionary doctors had travelled back to their country, but a few have remained and would continue this week.
“They will only be providing medical care for dental and eye problems,” he added.
Safi said even though it was a Seventh-day Adventist Church programme, the missionaries provided healthcare services to all religions.
He commended the 300-plus volunteer youths, national nurses and doctors who had volunteered and had helped during the week.
Safi said it was part of the Government’s health plan to work with faith-based organisations to deliver healthcare services.
He acknowledge the Government, Air Niuguni, Western Highlands Health Authority, WHP Governor Wai Rapa, all the other denominations and organisations that had contributed to making it possible.