A team is in Daru to conduct a medical outreach program in response to the yaws disease with suspected cases increasing in the outer islands of Daru, in Western Province.
The team was on Sturt Island on Monday morning to conduct tests.
The decision to conduct a medical outreach came about after Community Health Workers in Sturt, Upati and Emerti Islands noticed locals reporting to the aid posts with skin conditions.
Community Health Worker at the Sturt aid post, Kawani Bulia, said he treats up to 60 suspected cases per day.
Bulia said some of his patients have reported that they contracted the skin condition after getting in contact with water.
Dr Shelia Tombil from Ela Medical Centre, who is also the team leader of the outreach program, said Yaws is highly contagious and infectious, leaving patients in severe stages of the condition crippled.
Her team conducted tests for children and adults primarily to diagnose for early treatment.
Suspected cases amongst children were reported negative following the tests.
The medical team was at Emerti Island yesterday and Upati Island today.
According to the World Health Organization, yaws is a poverty-related chronic skin disease that affects mainly children below 15 years of age.