New ward taking shape

PORT Moresby General Hospital’s special care nursery is the only facility in NCD and Central province that cater for babies born with health complications.
Sister in charge, Sr Maria Bernard, said babies born premature, underweight (less then 2.5kg), mothers who cannot breastfeed, and babies whose births were delayed were admitted to the nursery.
“Because of this, many babies have to be sent home and return daily for their treatment due to space constraints. The nursery can hold about 30 babies but the duration of the babies’ stay and observation periods depended on the nature of the complications, which can be from five days to six months,” she said.
Currently, the Rotaract Club, in partnership with the Rotary Club of Port Moresby and the hospital, have begun the construction of a larger special care nursery building with an extension of the labour ward.
Project Manager John Paton said the new building would cater for all mothers and babies needing special care.
The extensions will ensure that babies born with health problems have a place in the nursery for treatment and observation.
Funded by the hospital and contracted by Network Construction Ltd, the Rotary Club through its network, will provide for technical experts, beds, auxiliary medical equipment and basinets.