PNG Health Department praises Church Health providers

By: JACOB MARCOS

The National Department of Health Secretary Pascoe Kase have praised the Church Health Providers in Papua New Guinea for their unquenchable efforts in delivering health care services.

The churches continue to endure enigma to bring hopes to millions of lives of the people of this country, Kase said yesterday (16-06-16) while initiating his departments support of K500 thousand.

He made the remarks in light of the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement with the Baptist Church for its initiation in reviewing the second edition of the Community Health Workers Health Care Manuel (CHW HCM).

“This is one of the first of its kind the Baptist Union Church has come up with in health care delivery. I applaud the churches for the health providence to the people of PNG,” Kase said.

CHW HCM is a user Manuel or reference authored and produced by an Australian missionary and medical doctor Clifford Smith in 1970 while serving in the Tinsley Byer valley, Western Highlands Province.

Baptist Union PNG Project Manager, Joyce Melepia claimed earlier that for thirty (30) years rural health workers have been using Dr Clifford Smith’s 800 page manual as their guideline to save lives.

“The book has been the main reference book for training and practice the edition is now twenty (20) years out of date. This book needs a complete revision to provide CHWs all the latest information they need at their fingertips,” Melepia said.

The BUPNG Social Service Director, Kevin Bong said that a strong tactical team have gone out into the four regions of this nation to work on the review program of the manual.

Under the Christian Health Services and Church Partnership Program, the Baptist Union of PNG is spearheading the project to engage health experts in PNG and overseas to revise the book, Bong said adding that NDoH provides the oversights.

He said the consultations teams have already completed Momase and now they were in the Highlands region.

“Hopefully 60% of the information will be new and updated for we have new diseases like HIV/AIDS, Multidrug Resistant Tuberculosis, Dengue Fever and other new health challenges that keep emerging.

According to the BUPNG, fifteen thousand (15,000) copies will be printed. The book is expected to be more than 1000 pages in two volumes. Their goal is to put a copy of the third Edition into the hands of every CHW and students by the end of 2018.

Meanwhile, Secretary Kase said there were backlogs of reviews that the department has to go through so he urged the working team to speed up the process.

Pics: From Left. NDoH Secretary Kase and his Deputy Secretary NHP&CS Ms Elva Lionel, John Kaewa General Director BUPNG and Kevin Bong BPU Cooperate Service Director.