Outreach sees 290 referrals

By ZACHERY PER
RURAL outreach clinics conducted in Kundiawa-Gembogl, Chimbu, has seen 290 patients referred for specialised treatment, an official says.
This figure represents about a third of the 863 patients enlisted for screening for various health problems.
Coordinator and district resident Dr Terence Kee said the outreach was the first in a long time for the district.
Kee led a team comprising of dental officers, physiotherapist, ear nose and teeth (ENT) specialists and an eye team from Chmbu health authority (PHA) to visit 11 health facilities in the district.
The visits were from Jan 26 to March 17 and covered three local level governments.
“A total of 863 booked patients with various medical problems were screened during the programme,” Kee said.
“Out of these patients, 290 will require CT (computed tomography) scans, glasses, hearing aids and surgical interventions to improve their state of health.”
Kee said a hundred would undergo cataract surgery, 86 for gynaecology, 55 required glasses, while those needing general surgeries were 26 and those for CT scans were 10.
Eight required hearing aids and ENT surgeries were four and one required prosthetics.
Kee said the programme was a success story for the two-year-old PHA and its management who were determined to send doctors to rural areas bringing the hospital services to rural communities.
He acknowledged PHA finance manager Rose Kuglhang for ensuring launch of the programme before government grants were available.
Local MP William Onglo allocated K85,000 to pay for treatment costs for the 290 referred patients who will be treated at Kundiawa General Hospital.
Kee acknowledged the support of PHA chief executive officer Dr Francis Wandi and directors Dr Raymond Saulep (curative services), Tonzi Aure (public health), Yasi Anuma (corporate services) and officers in charge of the eye clinic, dental, pharmacy, physiotherapy, ENT, consultation clinic and all heads of the health facilities in the district.
“My special thanks goes to Kalex Waleape, Dr Lawrence Paul, Josephine Sigil, Julie Waito, Rachael Becka, Hali Mawa, Wamle Yopa, John Isaac, Bulu Waim, and Joe Kir,” he said.
Kee said his team would visit the health facilities in the district in the middle of the year as a follow up.
Part of the follow-up clinical visits will be to empower district staff to prepare for emergency response during the general election.