Aid post on Watom upgraded

EXPECTANT mothers of Watom Island in Rabaul district, East New Britain, no longer have to travel long distances to deliver their babies following the upgrading of an aid post on the island.
Previously mothers had to travel to Nonga Base Hospital on the mainland to deliver their babies.
The Valaur aid post, which was recently upgraded to  a health post, was renovated at a cost of K100,000.
Opening the post early this week, Member for Rabaul Dr Allan Marat said the district was well into implementing Vision 2050 and the improvement of health services on Watom was a testimony of this.
He said health services on Watom Island would continue to improve with the construction of a health post for each of the six wards by 2050.
The new Valaur facility boasts seven rooms for outpatients, treatment, injection, sister-in-charge’s office, observation, vaccination and a labour room with two post-natal beds and three beds for the general ward.
Rabaul district acting deputy administrator Babel Umri said health indicators in the
district showed there was plenty of room to improve to health services and the district was seriously looking into improving all health facilities in the district.
He called on the people to take ownership of health and education facilities on the island.