2024 got off to a strong start in the Emeti Health Centre catchment with an extensive integrated primary health care patrol successfully reaching many remote villages.
The main focus was maternal-child health. The team was kept busy administering more than 1,800 doses of routine childhood immunisations plus providing antenatal checks and family planning. The goal is to see essential outreach services reach these isolated places quarterly throughout the year. It was great to see women and men, young and old, joining in the action.
The team effort included Emeti HC health workers serving with Catholic Health Services personnel from Bamio Aidpost, Delta Fly District Health support and YWAM MS volunteers, alongside World Vision TB officers. The mother-ship MV YWAM PNG helped facilitate the patrol.
Maternal-child services were integrated with other health action such as responding to malaria, leprosy, yaws and tuberculosis (using the GeneXpert to test samples aboard the ship). Communities also participated enthusiastically in health education, including youth health talks for adolescent girls and boys.
a/OIC Emeti HC, Robert Gamai, shared his thoughts: “I’m encouraged by what we’ve achieved over this patrol. Working together has brought a lot of light to the lower Bamu and Gama areas. It’s a first for us to hit such strong targets in first quarter. We’re looking forward to building on this over the months to come.”
The patrol was supported by WPHA and the PNG-Australia Partnership, including through the World Vision-led AIHSS project and YWAM MS’ involvement with the PATH program.
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