Over 800 people attended the recent health outreach program at remote Bundi area, at the border of Madang and the Highlands Region, which was hailed a success.
The medical outreach program was carried out from October 11-17 at Snow Pass and Yandera villages of remote Upper Bundi.
People from all over the rural Bundi area, including areas along the borders of Jimi, Chimbu and Eastern Highlands Province, attended the program to get medical checkups.
Patients as young as three weeks old to 80 were seen and treated.
Community impact projects director Vincent Kumura said the program, aimed to address the prevalent healthcare needs in the remote areas, was a huge success with a very big turnout.
338 were seen and diagnosed in the areas of physiotherapy and surgery (99 patients), vision (95), dental (53) and general outpatient (91).
Kumura confirmed that 43 referrals were made to the Kundiawa Hospital of which eight needed immediate treatment.
He said some major physio and surgical operations were done for free for patients with chronic keloids, plantar and palma warts (growths) and fractured arm and lower leg bones.
Many patients with chronic spinal injuries and osteoarthritis of knee, ankle and hip joints, cerebral palsy, TB meningitis, cancers, hearing and vision impairments, fractured bones and fatal wounds, were seen and treated appropriately.
Kumura said two cerebral palsy patients urgently need wheel chairs while two hearing impairment patients urgently need hearing aids.
A six-member medical team from the Rural Outreach Program of the Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Kundiawa General Hospital (SJNMKGH) visited and conducted the program.
Kumura added that this was the first-ever rural medical outreach program and they aim to carry out similar activities in the near future.
