Floating clinic delivers

 By JINA AMBA

ISLANDERS in Milne Bay are being provided medical services, including family planning implants on the vessel Kula Spirit, Spacim Pikinini Inc chief executive officer Wendy Stein says.

Stein said the vessel worth K533,731 was based in Alotau and providing health services to the people living on the islands in Milne Bay. It was acquired from Sydney.

She said people in rural areas and islands often missed out on health services such as the family planning implants. 

“Taking family planning to the people and addressing their needs is our priority,” Stein said.

Stein said manyislanders faced food security issues, chronic diseases, conflicts and other social problems. She said 40 per cent of pregnancies in developing countries were unintended.

“So to reduce the unintended, we are providing family planning at one’s door step to save maternal and child deaths,” Stein said.  Family planning methods would not only save lives but save Government costs in health care, he said.  

“It also empowers women and girls so they can contribute to national development,” Stein said

The vessel was bought when health workers taking family planning implants to the remote communities in Sumkar, Madang had mishaps in small banana boats.