By Patricia Keamo, EMTV Cadet Journalist – Port Moresby
With the ongoing Medicine shortage in the country, the Poreporena Laurabada clinic in Hanuabada village is still struggling to get the clinic registered in order to receive benefits from the Health Department.
The volunteer nurses are doing house to house visits on TB patients in the village during this festive season.
According to the sister in charge, Sr. Hilda Boga, since the clinic’s establishment last year, they have not registered with the Health Department due to lack of funds. This has made it difficult for them to refer their patients to the Port Moresby General Hospital as they do not have a recognised doctor – resulting in cases where some of their patients are usually turned down. Sr. Boga said what they usually do is refer their patients to clinics like the Koki Salvation Army clinic and from there they can be referred to Pom Gen.
Meanwhile, Sr. Boga, who is also a TB Volunteer nurse, has been doing house to house rounds for the TB patients in the village. She said they cannot treat the TB patients in the clinic so she visits them at their houses and treats them.
Senior HIV Counsellor, Sr. Momoru Nao, said they refer their TB patients to the clinic at Lawes Road; however, since it is closed for the festive season, they are treating the patients at home.
Sr. Momoru said, they are working closely with the PNG Family Health Association and their village counselor to get the clinic registered sooner.
