NIP hospitals get equipment

THE Kavieng and Namatanai hospitals in New Ireland each received a cardiac defibrillator from the charity group Australian Doctors International.
This equipment was donated by the Australian company Device Technologies.
“These defibrillators will be used by the two hospitals in New Ireland, an isolated island region and tourist surfing destination which has just 10 local doctors for 160,000 people,” ADI president Dr Peter Macdonald said.
“Almost half of the population is infected with malaria and many others with tuberculosis and to make matters worse, heart diseases are becoming increasingly common due to the availability of fatty, sugary western foods,” he said.
ADI delivered the defibrillators to the hospitals during a ceremony attended by Governor Sir Julius Chan.
Macdonald gave staff extensive training on how to use them.
The ADI extended its health programme to New Ireland earlier this year based on its success working in Western since 2002.
Through its unique doctor supervised integrated health patrols, ADI has given around 10,000 rural patients access to a doctor through remote health clinics.
It has provided school and community health education to villagers as well as health worker clinical and management training.