Basic hygiene important

By LULU MARK
PRIMARY health facilities are burdened with infectious diseases that can be prevented by adhering to simple hygienic practices, a researcher says.
Papua New Guinea Institute of Medical Research (PNGIMR) officer Nora Abori said infectious diseases were the world’s greatest killers accounting for more than 13 million deaths annually.
In PNG, Abori said acute respiratory disease, diarrhoea, malaria and tuberculosis (TB) were the infectious diseases that contributed to the high burden of diseases at aid posts, community health posts and rural health centres. She said this was based on a study conducted last year using the comprehensive health and epidemiological surveillance system (CHESS) 2018-2022 established and operated by PNGIMR.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), infectious diseases were caused by pathogenic microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, parasites or fungi and the diseases could be spread directly or indirectly from one person to another.
Of the more than 10 diseases that were surveyed in Central, National Capital District and Eastern Highlands, Abori said respiratory diseases accounted for more than 50 per cent, skin diseases 20 per cent and diarrhoea for more than 10 per cent.
She said skin diseases could be prevented by maintaining good personal hygiene and people needed to be mindful of their eating and drinking behaviour to prevent diarrheal diseases.
Abori said there was an outbreak of typhoid in the second half of 2018 in Eastern Highlands with 86 cases which could have been prevented by proper hand washing practices and access to safe water and proper sanitation facilities.
She said despite intervention programmes, there had been an increase in the cases of TB and malaria.
She said there was a need for facility and services for TB diagnosis, treatment and management and also people should not neglect the use of treated mosquito nets.
Abori said the occurrence of these diseases in communities meant that prevention and control measures were required.
“There is a need of antibiotics and human resource at the primary health level,” she said.
“Health education should be an integral part of the primary health services.”
Abori said health education should be given to improve the knowledge of people in order to recognise the signs and symptoms of diseases early that they could seek help.