RURAL HOSPITALS
Rumginae Hospital in the North Fly district of Western Province is around 30 minutes drive up the Tabubil road from Kiunga. Servicing much of the remote parts of upper Western Province is also has the regions main MAF base as well as its only CHW training facility www.rumginae.info
A visit to Kudjip Nazarene Hospital is quite an eye opener for those that thought that all rural health services were run down relics of the past. 45 minutes drive along the Highlands Highway from Mt Hagen, this very modern 150 bed hospital is also home to one of the highlands best nursing schools. Recently the hospital has been upgraded to provincial hospital status for Jiwaka province. Check out their website at www.nazpng.org
Kompiam Hospital in Enga Province is run by the Baptist Union of PNG (also administering Tinsley Hospital in WHP and Telefomin Hospital in Sandaun – www.bupng.net ). Kompiam has a major interest in student training, both PNG and overseas and has developed a number of its remote health centres as a base for PNG 5th year undergraduate rural training. www.kompiamhospital.org
SUPPORTERS OF RURAL HEALTH
PNG Sustainable Development
PNGSDP was formed in 2002 when BHP Billiton divested 52% of its shares in Ok Tedi Mining Ltd in the wake of environmental concerns. The monies now flowing from OTML are now used to support sustainable development programs in Western Province and throughout wider PNG.
World Health Organization
W.H.O.’s mission to PNG has been a long time supporter of rural health initiatives, including scholarships for research, workshops and sponsorship of the Society’s newsletter, The Garamut. The development of the surgical teaching program, Integrated Management of Emergency and Essential Surgical Care has been an important resource for PNG’s rural doctors. www.who.int/countries/png/en and www.who.int/surgery/en
Christian Health Services of PNG
Christian Health Services (formally known as Churches Medical Council or CMC) is the administrative body for the bulk of church run health services in the country. Governed by it’s own act of parliament, it continues to grown in scope of influence in this country and particularly in the rural sector where churches are providing up to 80% of health services. See their new website at www.chspng.org.pg
Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP)
RACGP supports PNG’s rural doctor training program, the Masters of Medicine (Rural) and our Society in a number of ways. – www.racgp.org.au
St. Vincent’s Pacific Health Fund
Established in 2008 by Dr. Andrew Dent, St. Vincent’s Pacific Health Fund undertakes a wide range of activities and projects to improve health services and medical education resources in the Pacific Region. – https://www.svhm.org.au/support-us/pacific-health-fund
OTHER INTERESTING LINKS
Medical Tests Explained
This useful site gives readable information for patients on a whole range of tests. From ECG, haematology, biopsies and many more, this information can be printed out and given to patients to help them understand the sometimes dizzying world of medical investigations. www.medicaltestsexplained.info