Govt needs to upgrade rural health infrastructure

 WE continue to hear about people dying from diseases despite the Government’s efforts to improve the level of healthy living for our people. 

We hear of women dying from pregnancy complications while children die from curable diseases such as malaria and tuberculosis.

I acknowledge the Government’s efforts through the Department of Health in its intervention programmes such as the free health care policy and structural reforms including the recently introduced provincial health authorities. 

As we understand, the ultimate aim of these policies and programmes is to improve basic health care services and to promote healthy lifestyles for our people.

Amidst all this, it has to be understood that government programmes are driven by actors within the government institutions and structures. 

Sadly, anyone can just imagine the current level and standard of health infrastructure in the rural areas of the country. 

Aid posts and health centers are the only two health structures that have served the rural majority since PNG gained independence in 1975.

Until the early 1990s, our people in the rural areas had the benefit of enjoying vital government services including health care for that matter. One could actually see a government health vehicle physically doing deliveries for health drugs and supplies including health personnel. 

The system was visible and was working well for our people then.

However, this may not be the case today as we continue to see and hear of rural health facilities deteriorating to a dilapidated state due to sheer negligence on the part of responsible authorities. 

In most cases, the facilities are either closed down or non-existent to the dismay of those who seek help from it. 

Just recently, a sick relative lost his young life on his way to the nearest hospital which was some 50km away. 

Nine months later, another life is taken away by tuberculosis because a Government proposed health center in the village has not being built yet. 

The Government is boasting about building big infrastructure such as roads, bridges, airports and wharfs but does it have any plans in place to build new or revamp the existing health facilities. 

We must ensure to make the government system work again to save our people from dying. 

Bring back our aid posts and health centres and bring back our health system that we once enjoyed. 

Tembure

Konedobu, NCD