Medicine shortage hits Buang

By ZEBEDEE GIAME
BULOLO’S Buang sub-health centre is running short of medical supplies since August, says officer in charge Taelabu Awateng.
Awateng said they were treating patients with whatever that was available.
“On average daily, at least 15 patients visit the health facility. But it dropped this month because many were aware that medicine was running out,” he said.
Awateng said the health facility had no Aspirin and Panadol, amoxicillin capsules nor tablets, consumables and antibiotics for dressing wounds.
“Our district health management team are aware of our situation but had not improve it,” he said.
Awateng said they had placed in August orders for medical supplies with the area medical supplies store in Lae.
“The bad weather a few weeks ago had given rise to minor health issues, but we didn’t receive many patients because they knew there was no medicine available,” he said.
“If they came to us, we would refer patients to either the district hospital in Bulolo or to Angau.
“So they made their way to Lae to seek medical assistance.
Awateng confirmed that over the past three months, there had been a rise in tuberculosis (TB) cases in the upper Buang area.
“We have conducted sputum tests, and have confirmed 18 new cases of TB in wards one, four ad five, but we have put them on treatment and are monitoring them,” he said.
Awateng said despite the shortage of drugs, they attended to 18 antenatal cases and 13 immunisations between August and October.