Rural clinic needs drugs

ONE of the nine districts of Morobe is badly in need of medical supplies and medicine, according to an official.
Menyamya district health manager Omin Gunua said they had two health centres, three sub-health centres and 42 aid posts, 19 of which were closed due to lack of staff and poor facilities.
He said medicine and medical supplies had been out of stock since September.
“There is no medicine in our health facilities right now because there are not enough supplies,” he said.
“The health centre and aid post kits from the Health Department were last received in June.
“But most aid posts missed out, and we ran out of drugs in July.”
He said they had been sending sick people home without medication.
They went back and complained, but I always tell the community health workers and officers in charge of health facilities to explain that we are all waiting for supplies.
He said the districts component of medicine and supplies from the medical store also were inadequate and inefficient.
“We pick up medicine from the Area Medical Store in Lae after every two months.”
He said the supplies were always low and they ran out quickly most times.
“Every time we order medicine or drugs people really need, the Area Medical Store could not supply them and that has become a huge problem.
“So most times we tell people that the medication is not available.”