Number of patients seeking medical help drop: Official

THERE has been a sudden drop in the number of patients seeking medical assistance at an aid post in Goroka, Eastern Highlands, due to the Klinpela Kominiti project implemented by Touching The Untouchables (TTU) and implementing partners, a health worker says.
Natero Dayesi, who works at Iufiufa aid post, said many health facilities in the province lack toilets and hand-washing stations for health workers and patients.
She said the most common diseases treated at aid post were diarrhoea, typhoid and waterborne diseases.
The 65-year-old health worker, who worked at various health facilities in the rural areas and five years at the Iufiufa aid post, said people contacted the diseases due to ignorance in following basic health rules such as washing hands before eating and after using toilets.
“Many communities do not have toilets and go to nearby coffee gardens and bushes,” she said.
“This is also the case for health facilities, there are no toilets and hand-washing stations.
“The Klinpela Kominiti project is (encouraging) people to live a healthy.
“This project needs be supported by the provincial government and district development authority for its sustainability.”
Mary Siwi, a mother of four, said the biggest issue in many communities was water.
She said they fetched water from dug wells that was not safe for consumption.