By Fabian Hakalits – EM TV News, Port Moresby
A partnership between the National Health Department and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will find alternative solutions to address cancer treatment in PNG.
Officials attended a workshop in Port Moresby to work out how to improve radiotherapy and cancer treatment at Angau Hospital’s cancer facility in Lae.
The National Workshop on Outreach and Awareness for Development of Radiotherapy and Cancer Services in Papua New Guinea focused on raising awareness on the importance of committing to a concrete and comprehensive cancer control program, including partnership, building and resource mobilisation.
Cancer Manager, George Otto, says the project will be implemented to improve capacity building for human resources and infrastructure for cancer diagnosis, treatment and prevention.
It will also provide an opportunity for awareness and interest among medical students and other health personnel about the field of oncology as a career pathway.
Papua New Guinea’s Chief Radiologist, Dr. Dora Lenturut Kattel, told EMTV News that this workshop was important to address deaths that are cancer related and find alternatives to reduce the statistics.
“Almost all hospitals have ultrasound scan. Maybe the only issue will be manpower and specialist to operate them, in terms of diagnosing and staging of cancer.
“Otherwise x-ray machines of general x-ray machines have been distributed throughout all hospitals in Papua New Guinea. Even to certain district hospitals in rural areas,” Dr. Kattel said.
Health Secretary, Pascoe Kase, thanked staff of the Health Department for developing the technical corporation program with the IAEA, as PNG has been a member state since 2012.
Kase thanked the PNG Cancer Foundation for hosting the workshop and Laguna Hotel for its sponsorship.
