Over the past seven years the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) incident has doubled in Kikori, making it one of the District’s most significant health challenges.
The Oil Search Foundation and the Kikori Community are working together to support local women’s groups with a business initiative that may help slow and even decrease the rapid spread of the disease.
Kikori Hospital’s Dr Beth Lewis knows well the many obstacles faced by those battling TB.
“Every day we see people who have travelled for many kilometres to seek life-saving treatment for TB. To ensure they don’t infect others during the active phase of the disease many of these patients must stay in Hospital for at least six weeks for treatment,” she said.
A 2012 study by the Institute of Medical Research found that Kikori had a problem on a similar scale to Western Province that is itself well known for the high occurrence of TB.
“One of the most difficult aspects in treating TB patients is ensuring they have enough to eat,” Dr Lewis explained. “To help beat the disease, we must provide nutritious meals for around 60 people every day at a cost of approximately K10 each a day.”
“Recent budget cuts and the rapid increase in the number of patients have hindered our ability to provide the food that we know is critical to beating this growing epidemic.”
Without the provision of daily meals, TB patients are understandably likely to leave the hospital – and their TB treatment – to find food. This is particularly a problem for those from remote locations who don’t have local family support.
“If patients go out or return home, they won’t have access to the medication they need to heal – and risk spreading the disease,” Dr Lewis said. “And if they don’t finish their course of medication they are at risk of developing a drug resistant form of TB which is incredibly difficult to treat.”
Gerea Aopi, Executive General Manager, Stakeholder Engagement for Oil Search said, “as our own employees learned of the situation, they wanted to help address the TB burden in Kikori in a practical way.”
In late 2015 Oil Search staff raised K8000 to buy food for patients. Encouraged by advice from the Kikori Hospital team about the difference this made, Oil Search has now launched a food drive where staff are donating certain food items recommended by the World Health Organisation.
“A staff-led food drive is a win-win situation,” Aopi said. “Not only does it help TB patients, it empowers our team to create a real, positive change.”