Nurses hold the key to plan, says Kebai

THE success of the 2011-20 National Health Plan (NHP) depends on health workers, according to the PNG Nurses Association (PNGNA).
PNGNA chairman Frederick Kebai said the Health Department could come up with good plans but it was the commitment and dedication of health workers that would make these plans work.
He made reference to work attendance and punctuality of health workers, particularly nurses, urging them to improve in that area.
“The health status of PNG is not good and it boils down to manpower.
“How are we going to achieve those goals if we do not have manpower?” he said, directing a series of questions to deputy Health secretary health services Dr Paison Dakulala at an executive meeting in Port Moresby yesterday.
“If the department relies on the nurses’ services and our morale must be lifted,” he said.
Kebai raised concerns about community health workers (CHW) breaking away from the nurses association and forming their own CHW Association.
He claimed the PNGNA awards were put together by the CHWA leaving them with very little recognition.
Goroka branch chairperson Lamson Hinanu said he had been in the health sector since 1981 and had seen the services deteriorate.
“If we step back and see how we went wrong, we can see that some provinces have taken ownership of their health facilities others have the equipment and manpower and others don’t,” he said.
“The population is increasing and the demand for services is high,” he added.
Hinanu stressed what Abau MP Sir Puka Temu said at last year’s national health conference in Goroka that trained health workers should work in the department.