WNB opens four new community health posts

WEST New Britain has opened four new community health posts to make health services more accessible, provincial health authority chairman Dr Mathias Sapuri says.
Sapuri said the health posts were built in communities that never had health facilities, bridging an important gap in health service delivery.
The health posts were built in Akonga in Gloucester, Wako in Kandrian, Vatukele in Talasea and Baea in Bialla which would serve on average 50,000 people in these communities.
Sapuri, who is also the United Nations in country physician and chief obstetrician and gynaecologist at Pacific International Hospital, said the project was jointly funded by the Asian Development Bank, Australian, PNG and WNB governments at a cost of K10 million.
He said the health facilities were fully equipped with necessary items including emergency facilities and equipment.
“Currently, the four facilities need midwives and those interested can send their application to WNB health authority,” he said.
“There are 43 functional health facilities in the communities. The provincial health authority has a total of 767 health workers and will increase to 950.”
Sapuri said this was is in line with one of their objectives to increase from 700 to 1000 plus.
Sapuri said their objectives were to rebuild all health infrastructures, build two rural hospitals, build a new Kimbe hospital, establish specialist health services, improve rural health services and establish a reliable procurement and medicines supply system in the province.