Two St John doctors to visit clinics

TWO high-profile St John doctors arrived yesterday for a five-day visit to St John Gerehu Hospital, Gordon Clinic and other St John agencies.
The two officials are St John Queensland president Major-General Dr John Pearn and Western Australia St John medical consultant Dr Harry Oxer.
Dr Pearn was a pediatrician in the Australian army and Dr Oxer was the president of the Australian resuscitation council in charge of training and care for pre-hospital care.
Under the auspices of St John PNG and chief commissioner, Douglas Kelson, the two doctors will begin their trip with a tour to the Port Moresby General Hospital children’s ward, the Gerehu Hospital, Gordon clinic and a courtesy call to the PNG Defence Force Commander.
The highlight of the trip was a visit by the president of St John PNG and Governor-General
Sir Paulias Matane this afternoon.
The trip is to strengthen medical ties between PNG and Australia and establish cooperation in practical medical ties with the Gerehu Hospital and the Royal Brisbane Hospital.
The itinerary also included a lecture with the UPNG medical students on first aid and pre-hospital care for patients with poisoning from sea creatures.
Dr Pearn said: “This sounds appropriate as PNG and Australia are maritime countries with a lot of experience with people being poisoned by sea creatures.”
St John PNG council chairman and Police Commissioner Gari Baki said the trip would be a very good experience for the St John members in the country, as it would also shift the focus of St John from “just ambulances to health care”.
Mr Baki said the venture into health care was a new concept which they hoped would continue and to help the Health Department provide health care to the people.