By Jack Lapauve Jnr, – EM TV, Port Moresby
Assistant dental officer at the Arawa Health Centre, Lynette Biari is calling on the responsible governments to step in and help replace current dental equipment.
She says the over-use of dental kits may also have harmful effects on patients as more patients seek medical attention every day.
Lynette says her need for new modern equipment has been neglected, but health must be a priority if Bougainville is to see changes.
She says her day-to-day contact with dental patients has increased gradually over the years, but with limited and overused facilities she has no option but to provide that vital medical care to the people.
Current dental equipment was donated by the New Zealand Army after the Bougainville cease-fire.
“Like this dental chair, it’s a second-hand issue,” she explained to EMTV.
Meanwhile, the director of clinical operations at Arawa Health Centre, Dr Joe Vilosi, said the centre needs better facilities. Dr Vilosi said women and children have suffered enough during the crises, and improvement relies heavily on good health facilities.
He stressed his concern during National Planning Minister Charles Abel’s visit to Arawa Town.
