Dr Paison Dakulala

On Tuesday (Feb18) , a media conference was organised by the foundation, to create awareness on Kidney disease, and the efforts that the foundation will be putting in, to helping those affected by kidney disease.

The Roger Hau’ofa Kidney Foundation held a media conference on Tuesday to make the public aware that it will be hosting its inaugural SHAVE 4 KIDNEYS awareness and fundraising event later this month.

Patron of the foundation and wife of the Prime Minister, Rachel Marape will be launching the foundation’s website during the event.

This initiative comes after Daru Island was flagged as a TB hot spot in 2014 and later declared as a national public health emergency in 2015.

The systemic screening will be done in a mobile van equipped with computer aided x-ray and electronic medical tools.

This will enable the detection of more cases at the earliest and also give a clear understanding on the disease burden in Daru.

The introduction of this innovation will pave the path for newer diagnostics, new drugs and quick response in treatment and management.

Deputy Health Secretary, Dr Paison Dakulala, said this in Kerema during a World TB Day program.

He said Gulf has one of the highest TB case notification rates along with the National Capital District and Western Province.

“Case notification for the 12-month period from April 2015 to March 2016 was 767 per 100,000,” he said.

“This rate is more than double the estimate of national incidence for PNG.”

The recent World TB Day brought together partners in Kerema to discuss the Gulf Province’s TB Emergency Response Strategy: 2016–2018.