TB testing equipment underused

EQUIPMENT for testing tuberculosis (TB) in 70 locations in the country are not fully utilised, an official says.
Central Public Health Authority (CPHA) chief scientist Jennifer Banamu made the remark during a provincial health authority workshop in Port Moresby yesterday.
“Each TB testing equipment stationed in the 70 locations nationwide can run 12 to 15 tests daily, but that is not being done,” Banamu said.
She told The National that the equipment used for testing specimens (GeneXpert) were stationed in all 22 provinces and districts.
“We have the instruments stationed in 70 different locations – provinces including districts – but they are not being used to their full capacity,” she said.
“The only hospital that is running 12 to 15 TB tests daily is the Port Moresby General Hospital.
“The rest of the provinces and districts are running only two to three tests daily,” she said.
“Some of the causes may include logistics for transporting TB specimens to GeneXpert locations, others maybe road conditions or lack of human resources.
“The data collected in these areas will be used by the National Department of Health to make improvements in other basic services so that hospitals are able to fully utilise the equipment at their disposal,” Banamu said.