Health patrol makes a difference in Foroba, Gulf Province

A health patrol facilitated by the Oil Search Foundation has made a significant difference in the lives of communities in the remote Foroba region of Kikori district in the Gulf Province.

Like many remote areas in PNG, Foroba has had little to no basic government services for many years, including schools and health facilities. A partnership has been built by the Oil Search Foundation in Gulf to bring together a range of key stakeholders to conduct regular health patrols to improve the lives and well-being of communities in the Province.

Recently a team, comprising partners from the Kerema Provincial Health Office, Gulf Christian Service, Catholic Health Service, United Church Health Service and Kikori District Health, conducted a four-day medical outreach patrol. The patrol was a follow-up from a previous visit in late 2015, also conducted by the Oil Search Foundation and a range of key partners.

The 21-strong patrol team included a doctor from Kikori Hospital, registered nursing officers, community health workers, a midwife, Kikori district health matron, government and church liaison officers and the Kikori Parish Priest. The health practitioners were divided into five sub-teams and deployed to Negebare, Seketau, Tetrebare, Tekerapo and Tobare villages where they conducted a range of activities.

These included household surveys for family planning, antenatal checks, immunisation of children, administering of vitamins, deworming children, screening and administering medication to sick patients, conducting general health awareness, TB screening, and organising referrals of acutely ill patients back to Kikori hospital.

Foroba councillor, Jeremiah Kepakie, thanked the patrol team saying it was making a big difference in their communities:

“In the past many children suffered from malnourishment and had pot bellies. Antenatal mothers have problems before and after giving birth. We carry the very sick men, women and children on stretchers and walk for days to access health services, but during your visits you have assisted very sick people in my tribe to get to Kikori hospital for better health care. We have seen a great improvement in the health of our children, women and the community as a whole.”

Author: 
Press Release