By Patricia Keamo, EMTV Cadet Journalist – Port Moresby
The only clinic in the Hanuabada Village that caters for patients including other nearby areas as well is currently facing medical Shortage. Poreporena Laurabada clinic is located within the premises of the Lakani Toi Memorial United Church. The staff in the clinic are working voluntarily and are doing their best to keep the clinic running with little to no medical stock available.
With just three nurses and a trainee health extension officer (HEO) working voluntarily in the clinic, they attend to 50-80 patients per day. Apart from the patients from Hanuabada village, they attend to patients coming in from Mirigini, Elevala, Lahara, Baruni and Tatana villages.
Senior HIV Counsellor, Sr. Momoru, says the limited financial assistance they receive is from the Laurabada councillor, Dikana Boge, and the Lakani Toi United church. Sr. Momoru says they use the money to get medical supplies from the PNG Family Health Association.
According to the sister in charge of the clinic, Sr. Boga, she says they use the limited medical supplies and equipment they have to run HIV, RDT, and TB tests, as well as family planning, antenatal clinic and normal outpatient.
Given that the clinic is facing a medical shortage, Sr. Momoru says they charge their patients a fee of K2, however, most patients cannot afford to pay for the medicines so they end up giving the supplies for free.
The Sister in charge says, their medicine supplies last for three to four days and eventually runs out. adding that they can not do much without adequate medical supplies.
