Hospital opens new X-ray unit

By LULU MARK
THE Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) yesterday opened a containerised X-ray unit at its Joseph Bana-Koiri Tuberculosis (TB) clinic to ease the load on the hospital’s radiology department.
The X-ray facility was set up through an initiative by the child TB project of the paediatric medicine of PMGH and was built at a cost of K500,000.
It was funded by the Australian department of foreign affairs and trade (DFAT) and the PNG Government.
PMGH chief executive officer Dr Paki Molumi said the leading cause of mortality and morbidity at the hospital was TB.
He said the X-ray was an important diagnostic tool, in addition to laboratory support and trained human resources in diagnosing and treating TB, but the radiology department at PMGH was struggling to cope with the load.
Dr Molumi said the radiology department was more than 50 years old and had not been renovated since it was built.
“Over the years, we have tried to maintain the X-rays and provide good radiology services,” he said.
“Three of our functioning X-rays have deteriorated and are beyond repair.”
Dr Molumi said it was the only public radiology service serving the National Capital District, Central and Gulf with more than 400 X-rays made per day.
Dr Molumi said two chest X-ray sessions for TB were made in a week and that was around 600 X-rays.
He said having an X-ray facility, specifically for TB patients, would free up the radiology department to focus on other diseases and conditions.
Dr Molumi said electronically transferring X-ray images would be done between connected hospitals (PMGH and Gerehu hospital) and Six-Mile clinic in the city.