Health workers in Western centre seeking assistance

HEALTH workers who continue to work despite the poor state of the Morehead Health Centre in Western are asking for assistance, according to a statement.
Sister Guma Kalia, who has been working there for more than 25 years, said not much had changed since she started. She said medical supplies would come in every two months from Daru when requested. Otherwise, it took longer than that.
The health centre was built in the late’ 70s funded by Australian. It has six staff, two nurses and four community health workers and caters for more than 11,000 people at the Morehead Station and nearby villages.
The buildings are in a poor state with no water supply, limited medical supplies and drugs, no anti-venom and no vaccines.
Children are immunised only when Daru General Hospital staff are sent out on patrol.
The centre identified eight tuberculosis cases through symptoms rather than laboratory tests. Patients are given drugs and sent back to their villages.
They return once a month to collect their supplies. Since February, 10 people were brought to the centre to be treated for snake bites. But they had to be turned away and advised to use traditional herbs.
There is no clinic and drugs to treat those with sexually-transmitted diseases.
Family planning services are lacking.