Aust doctors complete 9 patrols

AUSTRALIAN Doctors International (ADI) has completed nine outreach health patrols with support from the New Ireland health authority.
ADI is scheduled to conduct 12 patrols this year.
“Our patrols comprise of both road and sea-based patrols,” ADI’s office manager Sherel Nama said.
“Almost three-quarters of the patrols are sea-based and we use banana boats or Government fast boats to access the rural health facilities in the communities.”
The first patrol this year was carried out at the Lelet plateau in New Ireland, from Feb 1-5.
The health team spent a week in the area visiting four villages.
It was the first time a patrol had focused on the Lelet plateau.
The top three health issues in the community were skin infections, musculoskeletal issues and lifestyle diseases.
The second patrol was carried out in the Konoagil West area from Feb 15-25. The patrol took 12 days due to the geographically challenging location.
The team provided health awareness and clinical services to 10 villages, besides education at two aid posts and two schools.
There was a malaria outbreak in the region of Kabaila to Watpi, with about 50 patients diagnosed.
“The patrol team ran out of malaria rapid diagnostic testing kits and anti-malarial medications, on day five of the patrol,” Nama said.
The patrols ensured that awareness on the Covid-19 reached those remote locations. ADI has been in partnership with the New Ireland government for over 10 years, with more than K4.5 million invested in this partnership.
In 2019, the ADI provided more than 19,700 clinical assessments and interventions over the course of 11 patrols to remote and rural communities with the help the New Ireland health authority.
Last year the ADI in partnership with New Ireland health authority delivered more than 13,300 clinical services and 285 hours of public health education to rural communities.
New Ireland executive council health chairman Misbil Nelson said: “We are not doing health services alone with the ADI.
“We are visiting health facilities to collect statistics on types of diseases illnesses to enable the Government to know which areas need more resourcing.”