Seventeen Aid Posts Non-Operational due to Health Officer Shortage

By Julie Badui Owa – EMTV News, Lae

Seventeen Aid Posts out of 36 in Nawaeb District are not operating because of no staff.

The District Health Manager, Ruaming Justin, said this has made it difficult to deliver health services to the rural population. He has called on the National Government, the Provincial Government and the District to quickly sort out the issue and start recruiting staff.

Featured in this story is the only health centre located at the district headquarters in Boana; it serves more than two thousand people. The patients with serious conditions are often medevaced by Manalos to be treated at Lae’s Angau Hospital.

Nawaeb District Health Manager, Ruaming Justin, said students have graduated from nursing colleges over the years, yet, the positions at the aid posts are still vacant. This has also been a concern in Kabwum District.

According to a health worker at the Kabwum health Center, Kevin Geblin, the district has up to thirty-seven aid posts however, twenty-six of them are vacant, meaning there are no staff. He also said there is a big need for health workers in the Kabwum District.

In a response this afternoon, Morobe’s Provincial program Advisor for Health, Micah Yawing, said staff strength for aid posts and health centres are important because services are brought closer to the people, however, funding remains a challenge.