Rural health dips: Report

By MALUM NALU
Rural outreach health services have decreased since 2010, according to the Department of Health’s annual management report for last year.
The report indicated that pneumonia, an “easily preventable disease”, was the top killer disease for children under the age of five.
Malaria remained another “high-killer disease” for all ages.
The report said tuberculosis remained a “risk” which required commitment in NCD, Gulf and Western.
“The rate of outreach clinics has decreased since 2010,” it said.
“Milne Bay, Chimbu, Manus and Western Highlands did very well compared to other provinces in 2014.
“More effort is needed to strengthen outreach programmes in rural areas and reverse this trend.
“Substantial efforts are required in Mamose, Gulf and Western to improve outreach clinics.
“Rural outreach provides the key platform for preventive child health programmes and an opportunity for community health education.
“Previous assessments have demonstrated the correlation between rural outreach and immunisation coverage.
“Rural outreach also provides an indication of the capacity of the health system to meet service provision obligations to the rural and remote populations – identifying planning, finance, supplies and human resources.”
The report said good quality care, including oxygen and early and effective use of antibiotics, would minimise pneumonia-related deaths.
“The pneumonia death rate among children under five years in health facilities fell from 3.07 per cent to 2.26 per cent from 2010 to 2013, but again increased in 2014 to 2.77 per cent,” it said.
“Rates are higher in the Highlands and Mamose regions, compared to the Southern and New Guinea Islands regions.
“In 2014, more deaths occurred among hospitalised children in Enga, Jiwaka and Western Highlands while Manus, Southern highlands and the Autonomous Region of Bougainville recorded the lowest rates.”
The report said malaria had been one of the “successful programmes”, resulting in continued decline over the last five years.
“However, rates are still above the 2014 target in Milne Bay, West Sepik, East New Britain and West New Britain,” it said.