Saonu turning to churches to help solve health issues

The National Faith

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
MOROBE Governor Ginson Saonu says many of the health issues in the province can be solved through partnership with churches.
He was speaking after a visit to Braun Rural Hospital in Finschhafen and Etep Rural Hospital in Tewai-Siassi with ELCPNG Bishop Jack Urame and ELC Bavaria Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm earlier this month.
“The Germans brought God’s word but not only that. Through the church’s history and beliefs, other services also came, such as health,” Saonu said. “When the government was not there, the church came and set the foundation for change and development.
“The Morobe government will create a partnership programme with ELCPNG to strengthen those services.”
Saonu made observations and opted for three goals — medicines to come from Germany, overseas missionaries to serve in each circuit of ELCPNG, and more missionary doctors to work in the rural hospitals and health facilities run by the ELCPNG.
Dr Simon Ganal, a trauma orthopedic surgeon and one of the three missionary doctors at Etep Rural Hospital, said there had been some challenges in the hospital’s provision of healthcare.
“We order 100 per cent of the medical supplies we need but we only receive 50 per cent. I always order some supplies from Germany, but I store it away for when supplies from the area medical store in Lae is short. I use them for emergency cases only,” Ganal said.
He said most of the hospital equipment and machines are donated by Australian aid or donated from Germany, and we buy most of the consumables from Madang.
He said most of the issues lead up to the hospital’s accreditation because “we do all the work that district hospitals do, but we receive supplies like all other health centres”.
More than 20 complicated surgeries that would need referral to Angau Memorial Hospital were done at the hospital’s main theatre.
Saonu thanked ELC Bavaria and Mission OneWorld of Germany for sending missionaries and medical supplies, and said to give his support to see the three options become reality.