Patient: Need to lift Covid-19 management in Morobe

By GLORIA BAUAI
A PATIENT who recently recovered from the Covid-19 in Lae says there is a huge need for improvement in managing the pandemic in Morobe.
The patient was one of more than 40 staff from Angau who were infected, as of last month and admitted to the provincial Covid-19 facility.
From time spent in the facility, the source described the situation there as a sad scenario.
“Rain water seeps in especially during heavy rains, the ablution area is flooded and is mosquito infested,” the patient said.
“Apart from that, we were sharing oxygen but even more importantly, the facility does not have a working x-ray machine.” With a medical background, the source stressed that diagnostic services, which included pathology and radiology were vital for the management of any patient.
“In the case of the Covid-19, the coronavirus attacks the lungs,” the source said.
“Doctors need to see instant progressive reports through x-ray to establish whether the patient’s condition is improving or deteriorating.
“Covid-19 patients, however, cannot get x-rays at Angau because of the protocol in place to limit the risk to the public patients there.”
According to another source, the proper x-ray machine called the mobile direct radiography unit costs over K500,000.
“If the authority does not have money, it’s now up to the business houses and bureaucrats in Morobe to chip in and buy this vital equipment,” the source said.
Meanwhile, doctors, nurses, health extension officers and the allied health at the Angau Memorial Hospital have since expressed frustrations on the lack of concern shown by the Morobe Health Authority in relation to Covid-19.
A series of meetings have been held to identify Covid-19 shortfalls in the province and find a way forward in managing the pandemic, with or without the help of the management.