Health worker sells medicine, services after health centre closed

A COMMUNITY health worker in Wau, Bulolo, Morobe, says he sells medical drugs and provides other basic health services after the Wau Health Centre closed its doors.
John Akusong, who had worked for the centre, said he provided the service that people went without when the centre closed last month.
“When the health centre was condemned and all staff here went without jobs, all I was concerned about was the lives of the people here,” he said.
Akusong said since the health centre did not have a vehicle to transport sick people to Bulolo, he provide basic medical drugs and services.
Being a certified medical practitioner who worked at the health centre for more than 20 years, Akusong sells medical drugs and provides other medical services like making referrals for tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS and family planning.
He also provides treatments for TB and HIV/AIDS.
“When patients come to me, I ask them about the type of sickness they have, then I diagnose the type of sickness and then tell them to buy from me the right drugs,” Akusong said.
He said he charged people fairly as he needed to continue ordering his supply from Lae.
He has done that over the past month, eight orders, and for the latest order cost K1,000. He said to continue helping the people of Wau town until the health centre re-opened.
He started off by spending K200 on drugs to re-sell them at Wau.
“I have a passion to serve people suffering.
“Only those complicated conditions that I can’t attend to, I make referrals to seek assistance elsewhere.”