By Fabian Hakalits – EM TV, Port Moresby
The Fact Finding Mission Forum on health conducted in Daru this week, identified negligence, by the national and provincial governments in properly addressing the growing health issues of this resource rich province, like the tuberculosis epidemic.
Concerns were raised on the government’s failure to protect peoples’ wellbeing; and the lack of adequate health services, especially in the most rural areas of this country.
It was highlighted in the Fact Finding Mission Forum, by the Special Parliamentary Committee On Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery, that Papua New Guinea’s weak health system is a growing burden. Western Province is no exception, and is suffering from this treatment.
Health services are not reaching the bulk of the entire population in rural areas; a trend that is crippling the province.
Chairman of the Special Parliamentary Committee On Public Sector Reform and Service Delivery, Bire Kimisopa, told the forum that major structural problems within the national government have led to poor health service delivery to the people of this nation.
There is urgent need for fundamental change and good leadership, starting with political bureaucrats, to improve service delivery.
Inadequate health infrastructure, interrupted regular medical drugs, and lack of human resources has forced many people to travel all the way to Daru, to access proper medical care.
More doctors are needed in the rural areas to save lives.
These sentiments were also echoed by Iboda Gibaru, David Dare’e and Aniwa Sasua.
