Health sector visit vital

HEALTH indicators in Bougainville have forced the Autonomous Bougainville Government to improve its health sector, especially with the training of community health workers (CHW).
Vice-president Patrick Nisira is on a two-day fact-finding mission to New Ireland on issues for the training, administration and structure for the community health workers education at the Catholic-run Lemakot CHW School of Nursing, about 40km from Kavieng.
Nisira was accompanied by deputy administrator Raymond Masono, Buka Hospital superintendent Dr Barnabas Matanu, and hospital CEO Dr Anthony Pumpara.
Nisira told New Ireland deputy governor Florence Stocken that health indicators in Bougainville forced the ABG to expand the health sector and his mission would enable an exchange of ideas and information to help them push for the establishment of a new CHW College.
The team expects to inspect the Lemakot CHW Nursing School and meet with health and officials of other relevant agencies.
Bougainville lost millions of kina worth of infrastructure during the 10-year conflict before gaining autonomous status.
It is restoring its health services and Nisira said the CHW training was vital for this.
He was a member of the previous government that signed the Kubu joint communiqué with the NIP in June 2009.
He said the agreement paved the way for mutual interactions and discussions that had traditional and cultural ties.
The visit comes almost 10 months after the official visit to the province by Bougainville President John Momis.