PNG has worst health indicators

PAPUA New Guinea had the worst health indicators in the world and region, Health secretary Dr Clement Malau said last Thursday when addressing the Modilon staff.
His comments were testimony to the first two volumes of the National Health Plan 2011-20, which provided a full set of reference data showing performances over the previous 10-year health plan.
Malau noted in the new plan that malaria was still the leading cause of deaths in most provinces followed by pneumonia, tuberculosis and skin diseases.
Interestingly, most causes of death in the nation’s capital were attributed to accidents and injuries caused by motor vehicle accidents as being the highest.
He said mothers and children were the most affected.
Obstetrics and maternal conditions in most aid posts or rural clinics were understaffed, not adequately catering for emergencies and, as such, mothers or their babies died as a result.
The aim now in the plan was to reduce these mortality and morbidity figures.
The volumes stated that the neo-natal, infant and child morbidity and mortality rates remained unacceptably high and were among the worst in the Pacific despite modest progress in the last decade.
They highlighted poor environment and sanitation, close birth spacing, low educational levels of mothers, maternal and child malnutrition, anaemia and low immunisation coverage as the causes of PNG’s current dilemma.
Malau said that with a concerted effort by everyone in all facets of health, state agencies and stakeholders, the objectives of the 10-year roll-over plan would be achieved.