The Kokoda Track Foundation’s (KTF) School of Health will officially begin training Community Health Workers (CHWs) following a financial backing from the Bank South Pacific.
BSP has injected K105,000 into the program, which offers a two-year diploma in community health care at the Kokoda College.
It will be one of 12 training centres in the country.
KTF has been working closely with national and provincial authorities to develop an advanced School of Health that will train committed CHWs.
The College is currently preparing these potential CHWs by offering FODE courses for students from remote regions across the country to upgrade their secondary qualifications.
Speaking on behalf of KTF, Dr. Genevieve Nelson thanked BSP for its generous support towards the College.
“We believe that, by increasing the number of qualified CHWs, we can increase the number of communities able to access medical care. The FODE program is the first step to training a new cohort of CHWs for remote and rural PNG.”
BSP General Manager Retail and Banking, Paul Thornton, said the bank was proud to contribute meaningfully to the country
“We are pleased to support organisations that share the same vision as the bank in delivering lasting changes in the communities we operate in,” added Thornton.
KTF runs sustainable, community-owned programs in education, health and livelihoods across eight provinces in PNG, as well as a nationwide leadership program.