Western people to access health care

Normal, Papua
Source:

The National, Monday 13th May 2013

 By CARMELLA GWARE

MORE than 16,000 people living in 21 villages along the shores of Lake Murray in Western will now have access to basic medical health.

MV Silvan – a hired vessel which will be used to carry out the patrols – was launched last Friday by PNG Sustainable Development Program Ltd and North Fly Rubber Ltd.

“This is a transformation of health service delivery which had all but ceased in recent years with the closure of six aid-posts in the area, making it difficult for staff at Boboa Health Centre to make visits through lack of transport and other resources,” PNGSDP chief executive officer David Sode said.

“These health patrols will visit each lake community at least four times this year and will be gradually expanded to cover other villages in Middle and South Fly electorates.

“The immediate focus is on women and children’s health issues, particularly immunisation. But the range of services provided may increase to include disease control programmes encompassing malaria, leprosy, tuberculosis, filariasis and HIV/AIDS.

“Callan Services – which is a part of the Catholic church – will survey the eye health needs of villagers and we expect that a surgical team will visit Lake Murray in the next couple of months to undertake cataract surgery at each community.

“A feature of the clinic is a GeneXpert testing machine. It can be operated by community health workers to detect drug-resistant strains of TB and enable effective testing of large numbers of people.

“Local health workers will be sponsored to attend training and local women will be trained in primary health care to monitor TB patients, provide malaria diagnosis and treatment and provide a basic safe motherhood service.

“The six aid-posts around the lake will be renovated and reopened and Boboa Health Centre will be refurbished.”

This is a part of PNGSDP’s Lake Murray Socioeconomic Development Hub Project and is expected to cost K1.8 million in its first year of operation.