BY RODRICK DESURI
Auki
The Atoifi Hospital Primary Health Care (PHC) Team is in North Malaita to embark on providing essential primary health care services to the people of Takwa and Kwailabesi clinic’s catchment communities.
The initiative and community outreach aims to bring health care services to the front door of rural people of North Malaita, as requested by the North Malaita people.
In an interview, Harry Samuel with the Atoifi Adventist Hospital and School of Nursing IT, said the initiative was initially planned by the hospital to reach out to the regions of Malaita.
He said the North Malaita tour was made possible through Dr Diudi, who is also from North Malaita.
“The initiative was planned to reach out to the regions of Malaita, and so, at the moment, our team is in North Malaita,” he said.
He said the team started its program on Monday, April 27, and Tuesday, April 28, at Takwa Clinic, and it has attracted more people from rural communities.
“On the first day, which was Monday, our team provided services to about 200 patients. On the second day, they received around 400 people, and many still want to come.
“On the third day, they moved to Kwailabesi, where the program also attracted more people from the surrounding communities,” he said.
However, the team has faced challenges with a shortage of basic medical treatments for the people at Kwailabesi Clinic and is calling for support from MP Ben Maenuu.
“Yes, before our team moved to Kwailabesi Clinic, they noticed that essential medicines like Panadol, Septrin, Amoxicillin, and Curtem were insufficient.
“So, they sought medical supplies from Malu’u and Kilu’ufi Hospital, but were unsuccessful. They had to return come back to get enough medical treatments,” he said.
The PHC team also thanked Ben Maenu’u for supporting them with 15 gallons of fuel to return and load the medical treatments for the outreach.
“Thank you, Ben Maenu’u, for supporting our frontline health workers and ensuring our people continue to receive care services,” he said.
The outreach program will end today, as the team will return to Takwa clinic to treat the remaining patients they missed on the first and second days before they leave for Atoifi.
Photo credit: Harry Samuel
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