Recovering from severe burns

By HELEN TARAWA
AN eight-year-old boy from Wanigela, Tufi local level government (LLG) is recovering at the Popondetta General Hospital after suffering severe hot water burns, an official says.
Northern Provincial Health Authority (PHA) chief executive officer Titus Stanley Mokuta told The National that the boy (named) was transferred to Popondetta General Hospital on Tuesday.
“It was hot water burns affecting parts of his body, but the child is alright and recovering well with treatment,” he said.
“Due to the extent of the injuries the boy was referred to Popondetta.”
Mokuta, who could not release further details of the boy, said he was awaiting the medical report from the doctor.
According to reports from Wanigela, there was shortage of drugs and medical supplies at the health centres prompting the boy’s referral.
There are two health centres in Tufi LLG, one in Wanigela station and the other in Tufi, both of which do not have sufficient supplies of medicines.
It is understood that most of the people in the rural communities receive their basic health services from the aid posts but even those services lack the necessary drugs and medicine.
Mokuta confirmed that there was shortage of basic medical drugs and supplied due to delays from the area medical store in Lae, Morobe.
“We do receive medical supplies from area medical stores in Lae, however, we’ve experienced delays in recent times,” he said.
He said the PHA had gone out of its way to ensure basic essential medical supplies were available at all the health facilities including sufficient buffer stocks at Popondetta Hospital.
Tufi and Wanigela are under the Ijivitari district which was split to create Popondetta electorate.
There are no roads from Tufi to Popondetta, the only means of transport is by boat or plane.