Quarterly Newsletter July – September 2022
Issue 13
Our Mission
Being called to follow the inspiration of the Gospel and the compassionate attitude of Jesus, we strive with conviction for excellence in all areas of training and nursing practice for the benefit of the community.
Our Vision
Catholic Church Health Services is an organisation whose members envision enhancing the quality of life of our people by providing a holistic approach to health care through trained, dedicated and compassionate staff.
Our Values
The Catholic Church recognises that training institutions, medical and nursing services are a continuation of the healing Ministry of Christ.
Therefore, our service will be comprehensive and holistic, embracing all people of our nation regardless of creed, colour or social status.
Catholic Church Health Services expects all of its personnel, regardless of whether they are paid or volunteers, to practice the values of:
- Integrity
- Justice
- Compassion
- Excellence
Contents
- Center of Mercy Opens Building Extension
- MOU Signed and Health Center Reopens
- Participants Confident to Rollout COVID-19 Advocacy
- Humanitarian disaster relief for Enga, SHP and Hela
- Health Manager Appeals for change
- New Facelift for Raunsepna HSC
- Bishop: Eliminate Fear with Knowledge
- Floods Affecting Service Delivery
- Go the extra mile with health care
- CCHS Kicks Off KPs Sensitization Trainings
Western Government funds health facility relocation
The construction of the new Membok Health Subcenter building has been completed and is scheduled to be officially opened by the Western Provincial Government on the 24th of October 2022.
The construction of the new health facility building was funded by the Western Provincial Government in line with their New Way Forward Plan Investment in Health pillar development.
Membok Health Subcenter is under the Catholic Church Health Services of Daru-Kiunga Diocese and serves eight catchment villages including five border villages. The facility was built in the 1960s and the infrastructure has since been deteriorating due to weather, time and termites and floods causing the steel posts to rust.
It was a blessing when the provincial government allocated K500 000 in 2021, for the relocation of the facility inland, to avoid flooding. The land on which the new facility was built was made available to the Catholic Mission by the local landowners and the presentation of the signed document will be on the official opening date.
Provincial Administrator for Western Robert Alphonse Kaiyun said that CCHS and other Church Health Services have been in the province for a long time and the government is committed to support and advocate for better delivery service for its people.
The provincial government is also looking forward to assisting with necessary furniture and equipment for the facility with the help of its partners and stakeholders in the province.
“In supporting the communities, we want to see that our people are healthy,
educated, have food to eat and a way to earn income to better their livelihoods,” Kaiyun said.
The administrator also stressed that they want to see the facility meet infrastructure requirements under the Department of Health arrangements and elevate the status of the facility from the Sub-Health center to Health center.
“Through our partnership, we need to improve the current standard of the facility to meet the needs of the increased populations and be prepared for diseases and outbreaks. We have a responsibility to protect the border settlements and our PNG citizens as well, and for that, we need more trained health workers. I also want to make sure the facility can take on the training of new CHW or
nursing students.”
Mr. Kaiyun explained that at the provincial level, they are in the process of reviewing nursing policies with the Rumginae School for CHW.
The Western Government is also supporting a renovation project in Bosset Health subcenter, another CCHS facility in South Fly.
SECRETARIES MESSAGE
Dear all CCHS Team
As time passes and we look back to the establishment of CCHS as a separate entity and having its own National Office, I look back with great appreciation for all the blessings showered over us during these last six years.
As we close the third quarter of 2022 with much progress and achievements, however, there are still areas in CCHS that call for attention. One of those areas is the need for facilities to be upgraded to their operational level with proper staff ceilings. It is also heartbreaking for me to receive phone calls regarding the shortage of basic medication. All in all, I thank everyone, for providing service with the limited resources you have at the facility. Giving a kind word, encouragement or a simple smile to a patient is worth more. Believe me, this simple gesture means a lot to many patients.
On the other hand, we observed the colorful celebration of the 47th independence of our country and we should always treasure that we live in a free country. But if we look closely, it is free?? When on our streets we see people running with weapons and bus knives and killing each other for their differences, how many scale-down services can we have because we feared for our safety and of our facilities burning? How many more days of missing work and depraving service to other vulnerable people because of this situation? We thank God for the protection and guidance of our leaders who must deal with these challenges.
On my last trip to Alotau, I realize the challenging work we do in remote areas. As we were traveling by Dingy to the nearest facility during a stormy rainy day, for me it was a first-time experience, but for the nurses taking risks in daily activities, it was normal to them. I admire their courage and perseverance. Thank you for allowing me to be together with you all and share in this experience.
There will be many inspiring stories to tell, therefore we invite you all to write to us, to share your work, achievements, and life challenges in your places.
At our national level, we try to support you as much as possible and through the different projects, many of our staff were trained as ART prescribers, mentors, etc., we are also cleaning our Biodata and we need so much cooperation from the dioceses. When we work together, we can achieve a lot.
Thank you
Sr Jadwiga Faliszek
CCHS National Secretary
SHRIP UPDATE
A recent visit by the Australian High Commissioner, Jon Philps, to Rebiamul clinic in Mt Hagen was one of many significant highlights of SRHIP in 2022.
The project will finish off at the end of this year after being implemented for six years.
Work through SRHIP has enabled HIV patients to continue treatment while at the same time providing opportunities for individuals to be tested for HIV. In addition to HIV work, the project has been an employment opportunity and a platform for financing other health programs such as tuberculosis, maternal and child health, COVID-19 and adolescent health. Gender equality, disability and social inclusion (GEDSI) are incorporated into project activities to ensure reach and inclusiveness for everyone, especially the project beneficiaries.
Over the past three months, supervisory visits were made by the project team to Vanimo, Lae, Bougainville, Kiunga, Goroka and clinics in Port Moresby. The visits were necessary to monitor progress of integration and to work with health managers on sustainability of these integrated services.
Work with the key population network was more visible compared to previous years. Sensitization workshops were held with health workers in Port Moresby and Goroka to address stigma and the general reception of key population at the health facilities.
A number of trainings have been scheduled towards the end of the year. The first lot of trainings have been completed at the end of September with few more to follow before the end of the year. These trainings include refreshers on ART prescribers, complex case management and components of the new HIV testing algorithm. All the trainings are facilitated in partnership with the National Department of Health, Dr John Millan of the PNG Sexual Health Society and the Australasian Society of Viral Hepatitis, HIV and Sexual Health Medicine (ASHM).
As the project nears completion, the CCHS National Office will be working with respective dioceses on transition of programs and human resource currently supported through the project.
Center of Mercy Opens Building Extension
By Samantha Tirang
On the 27th of July 2022, His Lordship Bishop Rozario Menezes, Bishop of Lae Diocese blessed and opened the new extension building at Centre of Mercy (COM) Health Centre at Kamkumung.
The extension of the new building was funded by Mr. Hamish Sharp from Bismark Maritime and furnished by Covid-19 Community Mobilization for Vaccination Project. It includes a new and spacious laboratory room, HIV/AIDS/STI waiting room, separate testing and counseling room, and a new doctor’s office.
Bismark Maritime is a shipping and logistics company with over 30 years of operation in Papua New Guinea and a partner to the Lae Diocese. Through this partnership, they have helped fund a few infrastructure developments in the diocese to help strengthen service delivery to the people of Morobe.
National Catholic Church Health Services, Project Director Mr. Graham Apian officiated the special event in the presence of the Director for Morobe Provincial Health Authority, representatives from WHO, UNICEF, the Australian Consulate, Acting Technical Advisor of Area Medical Store Lae, the Board Members, and staff of COM.
Bishop Rozario blessed the new building and reminded everyone that they should be united with the Lord in making his Merciful love fruitful in many souls.
COM is the fountain of quality and holistic health services to all those who seek healthcare hence the increase of patients consulted a day.
The outpatient department is one of those departments that is strained due to the increase in the number of patients seeking health services. Another one is the TB department, which sees an alarming increase in the number of patients testing positive for Tuberculosis.
In the last six months, the health centre reported over 200 new TB patients. The laboratory has its workload due to an increase in patients being sent there for blood tests from all departments.
The extension of the building came at an opportune time as the center needed a bigger place for the laboratory due to the increasing number of HIV& AIDS/STI patients, and those reporting for testing and counseling. The staff’s biggest worry now is the TB room which needs attention as it is small and overcrowded with poor ventilation.
All present in the opening made emphasis on working together in partnership to be able to offer quality health to all with no discrimination. Supporting each other wherever possible as a province and readiness to give all our strength to assist patients.
The staff at Centre of Mercy were encouraged to remain dedicated to their work even if they are short-staffed.
the new testing room.
MOU Signed as Health Center Reopens
reopening of Daio HC in Alotau.
By Jelilah Kum
The people of Huhu Local Level Government in Alotau District will now be able to access better primary health care at the Daio Health Center after the facility closed for three years due to law and order issues within the catchment area.
On the 20th of September a memorandum of understanding was signed between three parties, the Catholic Diocese of Alotau, the People of Daio Health Center catchment, and the Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority.
The purpose of the MOU was to reopen the health center and identify the roles and accountabilities of Catholic Health and the people of Daio and provide clear job demarcation between the parties.
In June 2019 Diocese of Alotau decided to withdraw health service in the area after the clinical staff was threatened with physical altercations that resulted from theft and destruction of the health center’s properties.
The National Secretary for the Catholic Church Health Services of PNG, Sr Jadwiga Faliszek attended the small ceremony and urged the locals to respect the health workers and properties of the health center.
Health Manager for Alotau Diocese, Sr Nomita Rozario said that though there are small Aidposts operating in the area the people wanted the health center to reopen.
“I want the people to understand that we are there to provide service to them and they must appreciate it and take care of the people working there and the facility as well.” Sr Nomita said.
Daio Health Center is one of 10 Catholic Church Health Services under the Diocese of Alotau.
Participants Confident to Rollout COVID-19 Advocacy
By Jelilah Kum
Catholic Church Health Services is equipping its health workers, community leaders, and parish priests with COVID-19 Risk Communication and Advocacy Training.
A total of 26 participants received certificates from a three-day training in Kiunga on the 19th of August 2022.
Kiunga-Daru Diocese has undertaken the Covid-19 Community Mobilisation for Vaccination (CCMV) Project funded by DFAT through Papua New Guinea – Australia Transition to Health program (PATH), to advocate and vaccinate the people in 8 of its facility’s catchment areas.
The training covered six modules in the three days to help the participants understand and learn their role in the rollout of the clinical awarenesses and outreaches.
Community Health Worker for Kiunga Urban health center, Awana Pau said that he is now confident that more people will come forward for vaccination in the eight facilities through the advocacies of their own parish priests and community leaders.
“They (community leaders) will be able to communicate the information to their people using their own language and through a respected channel of communication,” Pau said.
Pau explained that in previous COVID-19 outreaches, only a few people who were able to understand the clinician’s awareness came forward for vaccination. Most people were hesitant to come forward as they did not know and trust the outreach team.
“It is important to involve community leaders who are well respected in their community as through them people will trust the information given. With this training, I believe my work will be a bit easier, as I am now confident that my community leader and the priest will help me.” He added
Respected leaders and parish priests know and understand the needs, concerns, and fears as well as strengths of their communities.
Involving them in advocacy training will enable them to bridge the communication gaps and educate the mess.
Community leader for Bosset village, Rick Paulus thanked the Diocese Bishop and Health Manager for including them in the training saying this was the first of its kind since the pandemic outbreak in 2019.
“It is up to us now to educate our own people so that they can understand the benefits of the vaccination and how it can help our immune system. I am ready to go back and do my part.”Paulus said.
He asked on behalf of the participants to always be kept up to date with verified information on the pandemic’s development so his community can also be updated.
Humanitarian disaster relief for Enga, SHP and Hela
By Getrude Gabi
UNICEF in collaboration with the Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS) has been carrying out dialogue for a Humanitarian disaster relief in Enga, Southern Highlands Province (SHP), and Hela Province. The disaster relief will assist affected communities and populations from the recent 2022 Nation General Election violence-related issues.
CCHS facilities in these severely affected provinces have been working tirelessly throughout the election period to provide health services within their area and surrounding communities, however, other CCHS facilities had to be closed-off for a couple of days due to disturbances.
Enga province reported that with the increasing number of patients, the health facilities have also been running low on medical supplies, food, clothing and other necessities to provide relief to those affected.
11 Health workers from Epeanda Health Centre have been relocated to the nearest CCHS facility for safety, thus creating a manpower shortage a wholesale drug store raided and consumables such as Amoxicillin and other vital drugs stolen including 11 vaccine fridges during the raids on PHA office and facilities.
Data and patient records have indicated a high number of HIV cases in the aftermath of GE22. Report of July 2022 shows an increase f which needs urgent addressing.
Communications and planning have been established with CCHS and its facilities in these provinces of how best it can be addressed. A partnered project with UNICEF will commence after all planning and mobilization is finalized to help address the issues.
Health Manager Appeals for change
Clinic and Catholic faithfuls taking
part in the walk against Witchcraft and
Sorcery Accusations in Mendi Dioceces.
By Jelilah Kum
Most of the people who are accused, tortured, and killed relating to sorcery are women and girls.
On the 10th of August 2022, Catholic Church Health Services of Mendi Diocese joined the Catholic community in raising awareness against Witchcraft and Sorcery Accusations.
Health Manager for Mendi Diocese CCHS Winnie William appealed to the people to be aware of the struggle victims face every day and to respect and care for them.
Ms. William talked about the stigma and discrimination victims face and the physiological impacts they have to endure. Due to the recent National Election in PNG, many women have been accused of sanguma and some were even killed. The Epeanda Clinic reported a total of 40 sorcery-related cases of which three are males and 37 females.
“Out of the 40, two died, three referrals, and the rest recovered physically.” Ms. William said.
“We have all heard of how people torture women who are accused of sorcery right?” She asked the audience.
“The three referral cases are to repair fistulas. Use your smartphones to find out what that means and please raise awareness to stop these inhumane acts of violence.”
Over a hundred people participated in the peaceful march led by students and staff of Kumin Community Health Worker Training School. Due to tensions from the 2022 election in the town area, the march was held around the Catholic Mission area and ended in front of the cathedral.
Bishop of Mendi Diocese, His Excellence Donald Lippert celebrated mass to remember and pray for those who have passed on from the violence related to sorcery.
This year’s theme was “Stop Sorcery Related Violence, Abuse and Killing of our mothers and Sisters!”.
The awareness focused on informing people of the country’s law protecting people accused of sorcery and the rights of women and girls. It was also intended to inform victims that there are people in the diocese who can help like priests, sisters, and health workers.
The event was organized by the Group Against Sorcery Related Violence, Swiss Sisters – Loraina and Monica from the House of Hope in Pomberel Parish in Nipa, and Fr. Robert Gigmai who is leading the Stopim Sanguma Group in Mendi.
New Facelift for Raunsepna HSC
healthy new born baby after a succeful
delivery with the proud health workers
of Raunsepna HSC
The Raunsepna Health sub-center is one of ten Catholic Church Health Servicers health facilities operating under the Archdiocese of Rabaul in East New Britain Province.
In 1967, the facility opened its doors to the people of Inland Baining Rural Local Level Government in the Gazelle District. Raunsepna HSC serves a catchment population of around 4300 people providing vital primary health care.
For over 45 years the facility stood steadfast in giving the people of Baining hope that there is a place where they can access health care services. However, over the years, infrastructure deteriorated and the population of the area grew as per the increase in demand for a better setting or space to care for the people.
In 2021, with the support of Mr. Chris Adams who was the Archdiocese of Rabaul Rural Health Project Officer then, communicated with two major German donors, the Catholic Archdiocese of Paderborn, and Medical Mission Institute Wurzburg (MMIW) to assist the rural health facilities.
Funding from these two donors was put towards building a new standalone clinical maternity wing and a standalone waiting house for patients who traveled long distances to access health care. It was also used to renovate three staff houses and maintain stormwater drainage systems for the facility.
Apart from funding the renovations and extensions, MMIW also donated high-quality maternity beds to five remote Catholic Church Health Services facilities including Raunsepna Health Center.
Mr. Chris Adams said the generous donation was made possible through Dr. Birgitta Bauer of MMIW. He said the maternity beds are suitable for use in health centers and small hospitals as the robust construction made of stainless-steel profiles guarantees long use with little need for repair and service.
“The clinical wing and waiting house, in particular, are an important element in improving primary health care delivery in this remote setting. The clinical wing was constructed according to the latest rural health infrastructure standards.” Mr. Chris Adams said.
In the last 8 months reporting under the Maternal/ Child Health: antenatal care attended to approximately 500 babies, well baby clinic saw an attendance of more than 780 babies, and more than 60 healthy babies were delivered with the use of the new maternity beds donated.
Mr. Adams and his team thanked the surrounding local communities at Raunsepna for their active support and all the stakeholders involved in the realization of the project.
Bishop: Eliminate Fear with Knowledge
officially opening the COVID-19 Risk
Communication & Advocacy Training in
Kiunga on the 16th of August 2022.
By Jelilah Kum
“I believe that faith matters the most in the course of eliminating the fear of dying from any illness including COVID-19.”
His Excellency Bishop Joseph Durero of Daru Kiunga Diocese made this statement to encourage the participants of a COVID-19 Risk Communication and Advocacy Training held in Kiunga on the 16th – 18th of August 2022.
The 26 participants comprising of Western Province Catholic Church Health Services health workers, community leaders, and priests from Kiunga, Golgobip, Tarakbits, Kungim, Matkomnai, Membok, Iowara, and Bosset.
The objective is to train health workers on how to store, transport, and manage COVID-19 vaccines in their facilities as well as get community leaders and priests to understand how they can assist in the community engagement component.
His Excellency Bishop Durero was present during the official opening and closing of the training. The training took place at the Blessed Peter ToRot Formation Center in Kiunga.
At the end of the training, Bishop Durero shared his experience of how he overcame COVID-19 and urged the participants to never let fear win and to always cherish the three Fs in their life, that is their Faith, Family, and Friends.
“Your community is made up of your families and friends. Always remember number one and that is to keep faith that God will heal you and never fear, when you fear, it weakens your immune system,” Bishop Durero said.
“Use what you learn to help the health workers educate your people. You speak their language and they have known you longer and trust you more.”
The participants were all grateful for the Bishop’s constant encouragement to lead a happy and healthy life in faith.
Four of the eight health centers that sent their representatives to participate in the training serve thousands of people living along the border villages. These are high-risk areas and advocacy in these parts of Western province needs more awareness.
Community Health worker for Kungim Health Sub Center Stella Wene said the training has equipped her with the confidence to carry out her duties without fear. Kungim HSC is one of the health facilities that serve most of the border villages.
Floods Affecting Service Delivery
By: Jelilah Kum
Continuous rains in Rural Kiunga in August have resulted in floods affecting health service delivery in the Membok Health Sub-center of North Fly District.
It flooded two times this year with the recent one in August which lasted for three weeks. In the last month, the clinic’s officer in charge, Ms. Violaine Linus reported that they are seeing an increase in diarrhea cases, respiratory infections, and ulcer sores due to flooding in the area.
“Right now, many patients are coming in with diarrhea due to rising water level that’s affecting the pit toilets and contaminating the river,” Linus explained.
“Mothers and children are mainly affected most by this.”
“The people use the river every day and that has become a great concern for us to find a way to move all pit toilets to higher ground.”
The flood has not only affected people’s health but is also causing serious damage to the clinic building’s infrastructure. On rainy days, the water level rises to over a meter high and flows through the facility, destroying the building infrastructure, medical materials, and books and causing the building support post to corrode.
In 2021, the Western Provincial Administration allocated K500 000 for the relocation of the new clinic building further inland.
The community is thankful for the help and looking forward to using the new facility.
Membok HSC is one of 21 Catholic Church Health Services facilities in Western Province. Apart from the 21 only eight of these facilities are reporting the Department of Health’s National Health Information System (NHIS) forms and Surveillance 1 & 2 forms (for HIV).
The rest of the facilities are Aidposts and smaller community health centers. The Membok clinic serves eight villages, five of which are border villages/settlements and three are PNG communities. With the support of two community health workers and a Village Health Volunteer, they see approximately 10-20 people in the outpatients on normal days and 20-30 people when there are outbreaks such as flu and other viral illnesses.
during one of the rainy days at Membok
Go the extra mile with health care
screening a mother and child at St Matthew
Parish.
By Jelilah Kum
“Integrated health service outreaches are of paramount importance to people in remote areas.”
This was shared by Sister Knowledge Ndlovu of Lae Center of Mercy Health center after a week-long outreach on the 25th to the 30th of August, to Wauwoka St Dominic Aidpost of Menyama District in Morobe Province.
The team was made up of four nurses including Sr Knowledge and two Community Health Workers from St Dominic Aidpost. They were assisted by a group of women from St Dominic and St Matthew parishes who helped the nurses carry medicine bags and boxes and climbed mountains to reach the Aidpost. Sr Knowledge thanked them and her team for their dedication to service delivery to those most in need.
“The journey was indeed challenging but worthy. Health for all is what we are vouching for, and the team was eager to go an extra mile to give holistic quality health care to all.” Sr Knowledge said.
During the outreach, the team was able to screen more than 450 patients including mothers and children.
“Most of the children in the area have never been vaccinated as the parents have to walk for a long distance, approximately six hours journey up and down the mountain,” Sr Knowledge said.
Sr Knowledge said that they had to turn back some mothers who came with their children for immunization as there was no electricity or solar fridge to store vaccines.
“Most of the children there are not vaccinated too and this I believe has contributed to stunted growth which we observed, for example, a 13-year-old looking like a five-year-old.” Sr Knowledge added.
Despite having a health facility in the area people still face challenges in accessing it. Some have to walk for five to seven hours to reach the Aidpost, while most of the people there cannot afford health services even at a minimal fee. It is difficult to sell local produce or earn an income in the area as everyone has their own gardens, and only a few travels the long distance to the peri-urban settings to sell their garden produce.
Three serious problems arise when there is a need for referrals when the patients need advanced medical care. Firstly, there is no available transport to evacuate the patient as the road network is poor and no cars reach St Dominic or St Mathew. Secondly, the locals there cannot afford travel expenses and Hospital fees to wherever they are referred to, and thirdly language barrier instills great fear hence the locals are less willing to leave their villages. The nearest referral point is Menyama Health Centre which then refers patients to Angau in Lae City.
The Catholic Church plays a pivotal role in the lives of Papua New Guineans by bringing basic services such as health and education closer to the people when a parish is established, especially in the most remote areas inaccessible by proper road systems. Catholic Church Health Services of Lae Diocese has five health facilities in Morobe Province, three are Aidposts, one health sub-center, and an urban clinic.
CCHS Kicks Off KPs Sensitization Trainings
By Jelilah Kum
The Catholic Church Health Services together with the Burnet Institute and Key Populations Advocacy Consortium completed a weeklong training on Key Population Sensitization at the Kefamo Conference center in Goroka on the 15th of September 2022.
A total of 19 participants consisted of the Diocese of Goroka CCHS health workers, Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority health workers, HIV Peer workers, and support staff/volunteers.
EHPHA Provincial Disease Control Officer Jackson Apo officially opened the training and stated that he was happy with the partnership CCHS has with PHA in terms of the work done to curb HIV & STI in the province.
The purpose of this training is to equip medical, administrative, and support staff with appropriate knowledge and skills to improve access and uptake of services for this group. It is important to create a conducive environment whereby stigma and all sorts of discrimination are absent and generate a safe space that includes the continuum of HIV & STI prevention, treatment, and care.
Officer in Charge of the St Joseph Health Center in Goroka, Elisabeth Maima said the training was very helpful and educative, especially learning about the key population and how to approach them in a proper way without discriminating or stigmatizing them.
The KPs in PNG are defined as male and female sex workers, males with diverse sexuality, men having sex with men, and transgender people. They face multiple stigmas, exclusion, harassment, and violence because of their lifestyle, sexual behavior, orientation or identity, and their HIV status.
Health workers are ethically obliged to provide service without discrimination as everyone is worthy of care and compassion, however, a few KPs experience stigma and discrimination in health care settings thus affecting their confidence in accessing service.
This training program is part of the Sexual Reproductive Health Integration Project and is being implemented by CCHS with the support of Burnet Institute and the Key Populations Advocacy Consortium.
The sensitization training was rolled out in Port Moresby Archdiocese, in Goroka Diocese recently, and will continue to Lae Diocese and Mt Hagen Archdiocese.
