PNG lacks specialised medical care

National, Normal
Source:

The National, Wednesday 27th March, 2013

By ELIZABETH MIAE
HEALTH and HIV/AIDS Minister Michael Malabag says there should be a balance in the provision of specialist medical services in the country.
Speaking during a corporate fund-raising dinner for the PNG Kidney Foundation in Port Moresby last Thursday, Malabag stressed the need for the government to provide qualified nurses and doctors to use life-saving medical equipment in hospitals.
“There is a dire need of specialised medical equipment, treatment and care.
“People are going abroad for health care and it’s a sad and painful experience,” he said.
Malabag said people were dying from kidney failures and acknowledged the foundation’s efforts in making a difference by providing training for health workers and equipment for public hospitals.
He added that there were only a handful of dialysis machines available at private health facilities but were expensive.
“The foundation has donated two dialysis machines to the Port Moresby General Hospital.
“In the long run, I want all hospitals to be equipped with all these machines and that’s where the government should come in.”
Governor-General and foundation patron Sir Michael Ogio urged people to watch their diets.
“We are what we eat and drink and what and how much we eat and drink today will take its toll in the years to come unless we start taking measures now to prevent those possible medical problems,” he said.
“We need to raise our efforts individually and together so that our children know the dangers they can bring to their lives.”
Sir Michael added that people needed to be educated also on the functions of key human organs and how diseases could affect them.
He said shaping and developing healthy lifestyle attitudes was a long term process and was everyone’s responsibility.