Karaulti, Samberigi health centres get new delivery beds

A NEW bed has been delivered to the Karaulti health centre in Gulf to be used in its labour ward.
It was donated by the Oil Search Foundation as part of its efforts to help reduce maternal mortality rates and boost the efficiency of health facilities in Gulf and Southern Highlands.
A similar delivery bed was donated to the Samberigi health centre in the Kagua-Erave district in Southern Highlands.
The Samberigi centre is managed by the Evangelical Church of Papua New Guinea and serves around 3000 people.
The Karaulti centre is run by the United Church and managed by two nursing officers and four community health workers.
Sister Henrietta Sam thanked the Oil Search Foundation and the Government for their support.
Sam said PNG has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the Asia Pacific
“Papua New Guinea has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the Asia Pacific with about one in 20 mothers dying from preventable causes during labour,” she said.
“The delivery bed will help lessen the chances of postnatal infection and will also encourage the mothers to come for a supervised delivery at the health facility.”
The old delivery bed had been used for 17 years.
The Karaulti health centre serves more than 9600 people from the Waitari, Wouobo, Kiwaumai, Eramaipua and Nahoroma wards, and as far as the remote Foroba mountains.