PNG’s ambulance service, St John has been tasked with the distribution of Personal Protective Equipment to clinics and health facilities in the nation’s capital.
All PPE are recorded and stocked for distribution at the Taurama Aquatic Centre.
St John CEO, Matt Cannon told EMTV news that there is sufficient PPE at present for distribution to NCD health facilities and will only be distributed upon the requests of these facilities.
“At the present number of cases we have, there is sufficient PPE. But as cases grow, we are going to need more and more PPE.”
That additional PPE are being ordered and it needs to continue to be ordered,” says Cannon.
And bombarded with requests frequently, largest referral health facility, Port Moresby General Hospital continues to be supplied almost daily with PPE.
“Where there’s been a delay, we’ve used whatever PPE we had in stock to keep Port Moresby General Hospital prepared. We continue to supply the general hospital almost daily with PPE. Everything they’ve asked for, they’ve got and delivered personally to the wards directly for use.”
The same process of PPE distribution is applied to all smaller health facilities around the city according to requests.
“The surrounding clinics are being supplied through this stock since around March or April this year and again, every bit of PPE requested has been dispensed.”
The response for the call out for volunteers to help during the lockdown has been overwhelming; most stepping up to take on the challenge to help with the distribution of PPEs and as assistants at clinics and hospitals.
“Volunteers are not funded to assist. We’ve had an overwhelming response from volunteers since putting out a call out in March. Some have been volunteering since the start of the year and that is an outstanding contribution,” Cannon acknowledged.
