Operational funds used to buy medicines

IALIBU Hospital in Southern Highlands has been buying medicines for patients with its operational funds, medical superintendent Dr Caroline Undi Kema says.
Kema, who is the only doctor at the hospital, noted that medical drug shortage was a common issue.
She told The National yesterday that the hospital’s main challenges were lack of manpower and shortage of the right type of medical equipment.
“Either the order (medicine) is incomplete and inconsistent or sometimes they give us things we don’t need, which is why most of the time, we buy our own medication,” Kema said.
The hospital serves an estimated 283,000 people from Kagua-Erave, Imbonggu and Ialibu-Pangia.
For a level four health facility, the hospital has an operational labour ward, full nursing outpatient and a tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ward, each staffed by at least three nurses and three community health workers.
Kema said level four health facilities were supposed to have at least two doctors and specialists, which the provincial health authority was aware of, but had yet to fill these positions.
“The health authority is aware of the shortage, but have prioritised advertising for specialist doctors, which I agree with,” she said .

Getting jabbed … Community health worker Mathias Elige administering a Johnson and Johnson Coronavirus
vaccine dose to Darren Nicholas, 23, from East Sepik, at the Vision City Mega Mall in Port Moresby.
Nicholas said he took the jab in order to seek employment. – Nationalpic by KENNEDY BANI