Outreach programme covered 95pc of health facilities: Report

THE rural outreach programme of the Nonga General Hospital covered 95 per cent of health facilities in East New Britain last year, a report says.
Hospital chief executive officer Dr Ako Yap said the programme began in 2013 for rural people who could not easily access health services, in particular visits from medical specialists.
Yap said the programme had been a success with the provincial government providing a patrol boat and vehicle to be used by the medical teams.
The programme covered Pomio, Duke of York, Lassul Bay and Open Bay.
Yap said the programme used to only cover 35 per cent of the health facilities.
He said the medical ship mv Pacific Link which would be in the province for the next five months should complement the programme and services.
“We are glad and privileged to work with medical specialists from around the world,” he said.
Two doctors and three nurses are working on the ship which is in the Duke of York islands in Kokopo district.
Yap said a team left for Tol in East Pomio to prepare for the ship’s arrival.
Health centres in Tol are at Marunga, Guma and Hoiya.