Medical equipment provided by the PNG LNG Project is helping to save lives in Kikori.
At the Kikori District Hospital, one of the three hospitals and nine clinics to recently receive medical support from the PNG LNG Project, two patients received the treatment they needed thanks to the equipment being available.
“When a man arrived at the hospital he was having a severe asthma attack and his right lung had collapsed,” Medical Officer, Dr Patrick Koliwan said.
“We were able to hook him up to the new vital monitors, nebuliser and pulse oximeter donated by the PNG LNG Project. After extensive treatment we were able to stabilise him and he has made an excellent recovery.”
The hospital also recently assisted with a difficult delivery.
“When a young lady arrived for a routine antenatal check-up, the maternal and child health nurses sent her for an ultrasound scan, using the new equipment recently delivered,” Dr Koliwan said.
“Not only did they realise that the lady was expecting twins, but they discovered that both babies were breeching. The nurses used the new delivery beds, ensuring that both her and her babies were healthy.
"The staff are so pleased with the new equipment. Our emergency department, labour wards and surgical theatre are now well equipped. We are able to deliver a better standard of patient care and it has boosted our moral. We are grateful to the Project for identifying the vital needs of our hospital, sourcing the equipment and managing the difficult logistics of transportation.”
The PNG LNG Project partnered with MediSend International, Maersk Shipping and the PNG Tribal Foundation to deliver nine 25-foot containers of high quality medical equipment to Goroka Hospital, Mt Hagen Hospital, and Kikori Hospital, as well as clinics in Idauwi, Mananda, Para, Juni, Paua, Waro, Porebada, Papa, and Boera. The initiative, completed in October 2013, is part of the Project’s broad commitment to improving health in the country.
The more than 130 pieces of equipment delivered were identified through a hospital needs assessment conducted in 2011 and included monitors, defibrillators, nebulisers, x-ray view boxes, microscopes and hospital beds, all required to support the day-to-day functioning of health institutions. Particular attention was paid to maternal health and equipment included infant incubators and warmers, ultrasound equipment and birthing beds.