Quarterly Newsletter Jan– March 2022
Issue 11
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
Inside this Issue
- New HIV Prescribers for CCHS
- CCHS Morobe signs SLA with MoPHA
- Kurada HC Reopens
- Youths Hopes for more Social & Health awareness
- Youth Health Talk Builds Confidence
- Happy Taps for St Joseph Clinic
- CCHS Observes 30th World Sick Day
- MP Donates Cash to Center
WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS PROJECT ACHIEVEMENTS
By Jelilah Kum
“You are the change maker, an agent of change with a critical role to play between health managers and officers in charge of clinics as you know their needs.”
That was the encouragement given by the consultant for the Sexual Reproductive Health Integration Project (SHRIP) Dr. John Millan to the Diocesan Health Service Integration Officers (DHSIOs) during their three days review workshop in Port Moresby.
The workshop took place on the 22nd – 24th February 2022 at the Emmaus Conference in Don Bosco Technical Institute in Port Moresby. It was their second review workshop since joining SRHIP as integration officers in 2020. This review workshop allowed them to share significant experiences and learnings from their respective dioceses. Eleven dioceses and 13 health facilities are part of SRHIP II. However, only 9 DHSIOs and a Health Manager attended as one DHSIO was unable to join them.
The workshop was co-facilitated by the National Catholic Church Health Services staff. Lead facilitators at the workshop were Project Officer Maureen Lesly, Project Finance Officer Wilfred Kakau, and Monitoring and Evaluations Manager Gaius Sabumei.
The NCCHS Project Director Graham Apian presented the overall update of the project and answered the participant’s questions on both the project and Health services. Bishop for Lae Diocese His Excellency, Bishop Rozario Menezes, was invited as the guest motivational speaker during a morning session.
An Integration officer’s role is to assist the health manager in implementing SRHIP activities and help manage other operational aspects of all CCHS activities in the facilities.
The DSHIOs who participated in the event shared insightful experiences that encouraged their colleagues to improve and revise their Annual Implementation Plans for the year.
Madang shared their experience with integrating Bethany VCCT and Alexishafen Health Center and how team-building helped the staff collaborate and accept integration. It led to the other DHSIO requesting team-building workshops for their respective provinces.
Morobe is the first SRHIP province to sign its Service level agreement with their Provincial Health Authority. DHSIO Samantha Tirang shared her experience and learnings that helped boost the confidence of her colleagues.
Following Tirang’s presentation, other dioceses also presented their experiences. Port Moresby on team building, Goroka on Grant Compliance-Activity Implementation Plan, Southern Highlands on Data collation and coordination. Daru Kiunga did a presentation on Procurement and supply management of Drug ordering and logistics.
DHSIO for Daru-Kiunga Sr Philomene Sandu said that this workshop was impressive with many learnings to help guide her duties.
“Everyone was comfortable and felt free to share and discuss ideas. I am happy to be part of this team of people.” Sr Philomene said.
The workshop ended with the officers visiting the National CCHS headquarter at Boroko in afternoon of the final day to meet and greet the staff and the National Health Secretary, Sr Jadwiga Faliszek.
The DSHIOs will have a huge task of implementing a lot of activities over the next 10 months.
SECRETARIES MESSAGE
As we reach the end to the first quarter of 2022, we are grateful to our God for the blessings and protection of our staff and services across the country. Despite the ongoing challenges caused by Covid 19, limited fundings, geographical challenges, and administrative loss and gains, 2021 was a successful year, so as the first quarter of this year. As we help you navigate the progress thus far, we took the time to update you on the activities we initiated and implemented in this quarter for an open and clear-understanding.
It is also important to recognize our foundation and how it all started. First, we look back to October 2016, our official separation from Christian Health Services, and how we started from scratch with no certainty of what the future has in store for the Organization. Six years on, Catholic Church Health Service (CCHS) is now one of the largest health service providers and partner to the National Department of Health. More importantly, our service to the people out in the rural periphery of this nation.
Secondly, we count the blessing of good teamwork at both the national and diocesan levels. Today we are well recognized as a separate entity with a strong vision and mission for the future generation. I want to name some of the significant achievements for CCHS; establishment of our organizational structures at the National and diocesan level, separating budget lines, strengthening our partnership at all levels. Establishing centralized payroll with good reporting and auditing pathways gives us the fulfillment of our services to our people.
I acknowledge our Archbishops/ Bishops, Board, all our managers, administrators, health workers, and our support staff for their contributions to our overall operation as a “CCHS TEAM” connected through various communication channels as well newsletters, website, and day to day updates via simple message or call. I want to mention also the support and relationship we have created with various partners who continuously contribute to our service through generous donations in cash and kindness. CCHS appreciates the recognition and working in a strong partnership arrangement.
Finally, I would like to highlight that the progress with our activities for 2022 will depend solely on how we collaborate and participate with our colleagues and perform our duties.
CCHS has in-plan training for our clinicians in HIV, Covid-19, and remote support in M&E and finance. More significantly will be the launching of CCHS ten years Strategic Plan which outlines our future directions and vision for CCHS.
As we observe this year, let us practice simple living through prayer, penance, and almsgiving. Let us not forget to pray for our brothers and sisters displaced by war, suffering from hunger and thirst, sick and dying, and those that have left us. May we all find peace and renew our faith during this Lenten season.
Sr Jadwiga Faliszek
CCHS National Secretary
SHRIP UPDATE
The Sexual Reproductive Integration project has been an evolving project for CCHS over the last 5 years of implementation. The year 2022 marks the sixth year and an extension to what has been a second phase for the project. A total of 11 provinces have been receiving funding support through the project to implement sexual reproductive health programs including strengthening existing work on the HIV response. Implementation of key project activities have been delayed due to the urgency around managing the COVID-19 response in years 2020 and 2021 including disruptions that were forced by national lock-downs. Some of the highlights in 2021 include, two data quality trainings conducted in Kokopo and Port Moresby. A total of 72 officers were trained. A further 37 health workers were trained in the HIV prescriber and STI/TB management. Twenty Health Manager also underwent a leadership training followed by ten of this health managers trained for Quality Improvement in HIV and health services. The efforts with the Service Level Agreement had very little success with only one province (Morobe) signing their SLA with the PHA. Reporting of service indicators continued throughout the year through the NDoH surveillance reporting. A total of 13,141 HIV tests were conducted where 509 PLHIVs were confirmed positive and initiated on treatment. As of December 2021, a total of 2,341 PLHIVs were active on treatment. SRHIP will continue to build capacity in 2022 while engaging with PHAs to deliver SRH and COVID-19 activities.
Notice
Catholic Church Health Services is pleased and honored to inform you that our National Health Secretary, Sr Jadwiga Faliszek, has been appointed to represent the organization on the Papua New Guinea Nursing Council Committee.
The PNG Nursing Council Swearing-In Ceremony took place on the 14th of March 2022, where Sr Jadwiga was officially sworn as a committee. A reminder to all CCHS Nurses, it is crucial that every one of you must be fully registered and have a license to practice.
Application for Full Registration and License to Practice will be closed on the 30th of March every year. Make sure to send your applications in early or before the closing date.
News Stories
New HIV Prescribers for CCHS
By Jelilah Kum
Sixteen new HIV Prescribers received their certificates after completing an HIV Prescriber Training in Port Moresby on the 11th of March 2022. The training venue was at the Emmaus Conference in Don Bosco Technical Institute, with practical sessions at the POM General Heduru clinic. Lead HIV & STI Clinician Dr. Nano Gideon supervised their training with the help of his colleagues, who were very helpful in guiding the new prescribers. On their third day of practice at the clinic, Dr. Gedeon encouraged the training prescribers to be better people who will walk another mile to help their patients.
“To implement the National Health Plan, I don’t think we need more money. We need better-people.”He asked the participants to reflect and go back as changed individuals, ready to serve and build trust with their patients/community.
It was a weeklong training that started on Saturday 5th to the 11th of March. They finished with a certificate presentation by the National CCHS Secretary,
Sr Jadwiga Faliszek. The purpose of the training was to strengthen integrated services by providing high-quality HIV and sexual health care at SRHIP health facilities. The participants comprised of 12 were community health workers, three nursing officers, and one health extension officer. They were all from CCHS except for one participant from a government facility. These new prescribers can now administer the HIV adherence to antiretroviral (ART) regimens treatment. The training ensured that the health workers providing clinical care and management for HIV/AIDS patients are adequately educated and informed about the latest:
- etiologic and epidemiology
- testing and counseling.
- Infection control guidelines,
- clinical manifestations and treatment.
- Legal and ethical issues as well as confidentially and
- psychosocial issues affecting people infected and affected by HIV
- And how best this population can be supported when accessing services at the health facilities.
The facilitators for the training were Dr. John Milan, CCHS SRHIP Consultant, and Dr. Arun Menon, ASHM International Clinical Advisor. They had help form the co-facilitators, Master Mentors Julie Bamban and Helen Dabaraota, and CCHS Project Officer Maureen Lesley.
CCHS MOROBE SIGNS SLA WITH MOPHA
Story Contributed by Samantha Tirang
The Catholic Diocese of Lae Health Services finally signed a Service Level Agreement (SLA) with the Morobe Provincial Health Authority (MoPHA) on the 6th of December 2021. The SLA signing was between the Chief Executive Officer of Angau Memorial Hospital (AMH), Dr. Kipas Binga, the Bishop of Lae, His Excellency Bishop Rozario, and Diocesan Health Manager Dr. Pauline Mpongo. The Vicar General, Fr Roland, Diocesan Health Integration Officer Samantha Tirang, and a representative from the hospital’s board were also present at the occasion. Integration officer Tirang said the process took more than ten months with some unexpected challenges and eventually a meeting with the CEO, who gave helpful guidance along the way that led to the signing.
“The signing also led to CCHS Lae having a representative in the PHA Board, “Tirang said.
According to Dr. Binga, this is new for MoPHA, so the management is keen to support churches where it is necessary.
He said, “I am for it, and I really support this document and look forward to a good working relationship with Catholic Health Services here in Lae.”
The Memorandum of Agreement has set the beginning of a closer working relationship between CCHS and the Morobe Provincial Health Authority as they advance in providing better health services to the people of Morobe.
KURADA HC REOPENS
Story Contributed By CCHS Alotau
The Kurada Health Center is officially reopened after being closed for almost a year on the 6th of February 2022.
The facility closure was due to law-and-order issues between the local communities and the staff.
Kurada HC is in the Duau Rural and is one of two Catholic Church Health Services on Normanby Island in the Esaála District.
Locals and the community youths came together and cleaned up the facility grounds in preparation for the reopening.
Dr. Jacob Morewaya and Dr. Perista Mamadi from the Provincial Health Authority attended the event with Bishop Rolando Santos and Diocesan Health Manager Sr Nomita Rozario. Diocesan staff, local leaders, and their communities were also present at the occasion.
A local spokesperson thanked the community leaders for working with CCHS Alotau, Bishop Roland Santos, and the Milne Bay PHA to solve the issue that has led to the reopening the facility. “This facility serves the people of Kurada and surrounding wards with basic primary health care and impacted the locals greatly when the facility closed. Since the reopening, two nursing officers are now on the ground and are awaiting one more health worker to join them soon. The facility is usually operated with six health workers being a health center. However, due to the bad condition of the other three staff houses, more staff will join the team once the houses are renovated.
DIOCESE NEWS
YOUTHS HOPE FOR MORE SOCIAL & HEALTH AWARENESS
Story Contributed by Sr Philomene Sandu
St Brigid Parish Youths and youths from the surrounding sub chapels are keen for more social health awareness in the future after the Montfort Catholic Mission health team visited them. It was expressed in a formal letter by St Brigid Youth Executives to the MCM Health Team, inviting them to do awareness during their weeklong training on Basic Catechism and Altar Serving. It took place at St Brigid Parish on the 17th – 23rd of January 2022. The combination of religious workshops with social health awareness was a first of its kind for the St Brigid parish since its establishment in 1986.
The awareness was on social health issues affecting young people in the communities. The youths were very interested in the topic and participated exceptionally in the discussions.
Some of the social issues addressed were the consumption of alcohol and marijuana, damaging community properties, incomplete education, unemployment, financial problems, criminal activities, low self-esteem, gambling, and viewing pornography. Health and socio economical issues addressed were early sex, teenage pregnancies, rape, abortion, and sex workers.
Integration officer for Daru-Kiunga, Sr Philomene Sandu, and a team of seven health workers helped the youths address the root causes of these issues as most of them are firsthand survivors. The youths came up with solutions like; Getting everyone involved in positive activities in sports and church activities, keep doing awareness in the communities and families, discourage young people from drinking alcohol or gambling, and surround themselves with positive people.
“We were so impressed by the youths and their parents’ attention and questions which encouraged us to talk more on this sensitive activity.”
Sr Philomene said. “Many of our youths and their parents are lost with the misuse of mobile phone resulting in them getting misinformation, causing problems in their families and destroying their future.” St Brigit Parish Youths thanked their Parish Administrator Fr Kiran Jyothi, the pastoral team, and the MCM Team to attend a week of life-turning sessions.
YOUTH HEALTH TALK BUILDS CONFIDENCE
Story By Samantha Tirang
Youths and adolescent make up most of our current population. Therefore, we must provide a safe and respectable healthcare service that they can access.
On the February 5th, an outreach team conducted a Youth Health & Wellbeing Awareness at St. Michaels Parish in Lae’s Eriku suburb. The outreach team included a doctor, two nursing officers, the Health Services Integration Officer, a driver, and an HIV Prescriber. The target audience was the Lae Catholic Diocese Youths who gathered for the inauguration mass, celebrated by His Excellency Bishop Rozario Menezes, to commence the Youth year 2022. It was the perfect entry point for a Youth Health Talk for young people.
The Youth Health & Wellbeing Awareness is part of the Sexual Reproductive Health Integration Project Activity planned in quarter 3 of 2021 but did not eventuate due to COVID restrictions and other contributing factors. The awareness intends to promote Youth Health and improve their knowledge on:
•health issues affecting young people – including teenage pregnancies, HIV & STI.
•understanding the human anatomy
•andSelf-care
Youths find it difficult to access health services due to several reasons: fear, discrimination, embarrassment, can’t afford medical fees, the perception that the information shared will not be kept confidential, and many more others matters. Because it is considered taboo in many PNG societies to talk openly about sex education, many young people do not have access to the correct or reliable information to make informed choices. The end result is associated to increase in teenage pregnancies and HIV & STI cases that are recorded daily in the clinics. Many young people do not know what to do because they are afraid to talk openly about their health issues. It is essential for health workers to promote and provide safe and respectable health care services where youths will feel welcome and safe to share their health issues and receive services. It is believed that the best way to do this is to integrate activities with programs for young people.
Furthermore, when young people are aware of their body’s health, they will gain the confidence to access health services. Currently, the number of young people accessing facilities are young girls having babies and young boys who are already fathers in their teens. There is intention to address this through school health talks which is currently a work in progress. The restriction impose by COVID-19 is also limiting access to schools. Drawing from some experience sharing in Bougainville regarding Adolescent Sexual Health, the team in Lae saw the need to implement a similar activity. Discussions with the Diocesan Youth Coordinator in Bougainville continued, who supported the program and made it possible to implement this activity.
The activity gave the young people hope and built their trust in the health workers to help them. Many felt safe and asked questions openly regarding sexual health issues. The two Sexual Health Nurses present were more than happy to answer the questions raised on reproduction and HIV & STI symptoms. Information sheets were created and distributed among the youths – this information pamphlet contained Top 10 Health Tips for Youths. Apart from the Youth Health awareness, the team also conducted HIV testing where two mothers and 15 young people came forward for testing. When asked what their thoughts were about this awareness, one youth from one of the parishes responded, “When something like this happens, it gives us the confidence to come forward and do this – to know our status. Sometimes we get scared to go to clinics for reasons like what if a family member sees us there and becomes judgmental. It helps when we are among our peers.”
The diocesan team is determined to continue with the health talk with such groups of young people in the diocese to ensure better health information & services reaches everyone. There is anticipation that such activity will help young people be aware of their health and boost their confidence to access any health services. There is support from the Diocesan Youth Coordinator who will be supporting more of such activities and is looking forward to be part of the next lot of visits to each deanery to contribute to the development of young people including adolescents.
HAPPY TAPS FOR ST JOSEPH CLINIC
Story Contributed by Alfred Koko
Three new portable hand washing buckets called Happy Taps were installed at the newly renovated St Joseph Clinic in Goroka on the 1st of March 2022.
Goroka Integration Officer Alfred Koko said the Happy Taps helps in reminding their clients to wash their hands before entering the building.
“They were placed strategically in front of the clinic so they will not miss it because the color is very eye catchy,” Koko said.
“We have tuffa tanks at the back of the clinic, but sometimes the clients just don’t want to go to the back to wash their hands.”
He added that thanks to the TTU (Touching the Untouchables), they can now trust their clients to follow the health and safety measures by washing their hands, wearing a face mask, and keeping a safe distance from others when entering the building.
St Joseph Clinic is one of nine other health facilities in the Goroka Urban to receive such buckets by TTU in November 2021. The clinic received six happy taps and gave three to its sister facilities in the province.
TTU is National Non-Government Organization based in Goroka and helping to implement the COVID-19 Preparedness & Risk Management program.
CCHS OBSERVES 30TH WORLD SICK DAY
By: Jelilah Kum
On the 11th of February 2022, Catholic Church Health Services around the country joined in observing the 30th World Day of the Sick. The Holy Father, Pope John Paul II, initiated WDS to encourage people to pray for those who suffer from illnesses and their caregivers.
The theme for the day was
“Be merciful, even as your Father is merciful” (Lk6:36). Standing beside those who suffer on a path of charity.
In the message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 30th World Day of the Sick, it reads, “I think of all those physicians, nurses, laboratory technicians, the support staff, and the caretakers of the sick, as well as the numerous volunteers who donate their precious time to assist those who suffer. Dear healthcare workers, your service alongside the sick, carried out with love and competence, transcends the bounds of your profession, and becomes a mission. Your hands, which touch the suffering flesh of Christ, can be a sign of the merciful hands of the Father. Be mindful of the great dignity of your profession, as well as the responsibility that it entails.” The Holy Father said with new progressive advances in medical sciences to help in the care and treatment of patients, let us not forget the uniqueness of each patient, his or her dignity and frailties.
“Patients are always more important than their diseases, and for this reason, no therapeutic approach can prescind from listening to the patient, his or her history, anxieties and fears. Even when healing is not possible, care can always be given. It is always possible to console, it is always possible to make people sense a closeness that is more interested in the person than in his or her pathology. For this reason, I would hope that the training provided to health workers might enable them to develop a capacity for listening and relating to others.”
CCHS East New Britain had a Eucharistic Mass celebration at their main Cathedral with health workers from Paparatava and Napapar Heath Centers, joining the St Mary’s Vunapope Hospital staff. The sick were anointed during the mass, and later the health workers visited patients at St Mary’s Hospital with small gifts. “In Alotau Diocese, the staff celebrated the World Day of the Sick meaningfully with the health workers visiting the sick and suffering.” Health Manager Sr Nomita Rozario.
Silanga health workers in West New Britain signed their Oaths after a Eucharistic Mass. Their Diocesan Health Manager, Theckla Noho, was there and witnessed the signing of the Oaths. The National Catholic Health Secretary was pleased with CCHS around the country for observing this very special day with the rest of the world.
“Congratulations to everyone. I am very happy that CCHS celebrated the World Day of the Sick around the country. We all give thanks to God for this Healing Ministry that is entrusted into our hands.” Sr Jadwiga said.
CCHS continues to serve those who are ill and suffering since the 1800s through the efforts of its early missionaries.
MP DONATES CASH TO CENTER
By Jelilah Kum
Governor for Jiwaka Honorable William Tongamp donated K50 000 to the Ketepem Aidpost in South Waghi District on the 6th of January. Diocesan Health Manager for Mt Hagen Archdiocese, Fr Peter Ripa, received the donation in the presence of the Aidposts officer in charge of Johnson Liandau, and the community.
“The purpose of the donation is to extend the facility to a Sub health center so that it can provide more services.” Fr Peter said.
“The current aid post serves people from nine council wards, so the locals and the governor decided to help the facility include all the necessary primary health care. The building will have a labor ward, emergency ward, inpatient ward, pediatric ward, and others.” The OIC Liandau is a Community Health Worker and is also the only staff at the Aidpost which helps provide primary health care to the nine wards in Anglimp Rural.
The catchment population is approximately 70-80 thousand people. Liandau said that with other health facilities in the district, he sees less than 50 patients every day. The extension will mean more health workers helping Liandau and an increase in patients as there will be more services to offer. The construction for the building has commenced and the OIC is keen for its completion.
NDOH STAFF VISITS CCHS HEALTH CENTERS
Story Contributed by Eileen Liborious
Catholic Church Health Services of Daru-Kiunga Diocese was privileged to have staff from the National Department of Health visit their health centers on the 21st of February 2022.
Technical Advisor for Pre-service and Health Training Mary Kililo and Education Officer for Pre-Service Training Julie Dopsie visited Kiunga to assess health facilities as part of setting up the Rumginae General Nursing School for North Fly District.
After 55 years of its establishment, the current Rumginae Community Health Worker Training School is undergoing assessments to become a Nursing school, offering courses in both CHW and Diploma for general nursing. The Evangelical Church of PNG runs the school and is a close partner for Daru-Kiunga CCHS in health service delivery to the people of Western Province. The CCHS facilities they visited were Montfort Catholic Mission Urban Clinic, Matkomnai, and Membok Health Subcenters.
On their trip to Membok HSC to assess the facility, the Diocesan Health Manageress Eileen Liborious and the Principal for Rumginae CHWTS, Amos Kupaloma, accompanied the two staff officers during the visit.
“It was exciting and a privilege to show them what our health workers are doing at the community level. It gives them(health workers) a sense of moral support and motivation in their work.”Liborious said.
Membok HSC is a four-hour dinghy ride on a 60-horsepower engine and three hours by a 75-horsepower-engine.
The province has 22 health facilities in operation with only nine facilities reporting data and is one of the most geographically challenging provinces.
M&E WORKSHOP VITAL FOR ALL HEALTH WORKERS
Story contributed by Doreen Dage
Milne Bay Catholic Church Health Services conducted two successful Data Quality workshops with the Nimoa and Jinjo health centers staff. The first workshop took place at Nimoa from the 14th to the 16th of February 2022. All the health workers at Jinjo HC also had the privilege to attend three days on Data Quality Workshop.
Nimoa HC is on the Nimoa Island, and Jinjo HC is on Rossel Island in the Samarai-Murua District. Nimoa to Jinjo is approximately five hours by dinghy. It takes about three to five days to travel from Alotau to Jinjo or Nimoa by sea. The length of the trip depends on the weather pattern. M&E officer for Catholic Church Health Services Milne Bay Doreen Dage, Diocesan Health Manageress Sr Nomita Rozario, and Family life Apostolic Officer James Tomiyavau went to these remote islands to conduct workshops with the health staff.
The M&E officer conducted the Data Quality Workshop after noticing the repetition of reporting issues in reports sent in by the two facilities.
“Every staff should know how to fill in the daily tallies, record books, and how to record them in the NHIS or Surv Forms,” Dage said. “The training was mostly on quality information, how to do the proper recording in their daily tally sheets and record books. I know they will do the right thing now after this workshop.”
After the sessions, Dage gave the staff short activities and was pleased with their performance.
During the workshop at Nimoa HC, the DHM set up a call conference with the National CCHS Secretary, Sr Jadwiga Faliszek. Sr Jadwiga took the opportunity to encourage the health workers to do their best in serving the people and ask a lot of questions so that they can learn as much as they can from their M&E officer.
Community Health Worker for Jinjo HC Sylvester Raymond commented that it was something new for them, as they always expected the OIC to do all the reporting.
“Our OICs absence at the facility when the reports are needed always caused inconveniences and, it is very interesting to know the importance of the Characteristics, Accuracy, Reliability, Relevance, Timeliness, Completeness to improve data collection.” CHW Raymond said.
“I have learned that collecting quality data and reporting is a shared responsibility and when doing that it also gives me a summary or a clear picture of the work that I do at the Health Centre at the end of each month,” Raymond added.
OIC for Nimoa HC Marie Dimasi said that though it was a short workshop, but they learned many things.
“We saw our mistakes and learned that working as a team is beneficial to reporting quality data,” Dimasi said.
All the staff thanked the DHM, M&E officer, and the FLA officer for conducting the workshop which they learned many new things.
M&E Officer Dage plans to conduct similar workshops in the other CCHS health facilities in Milne Bay.
M&E TO VISIT FIVE FACILITIES
By Jelilah Kum
“Submission of inaccurate and incomplete data is a key issue that needs to be addressed, especially at the facility level.”
Catholic Church Health Services Monitoring and Evaluations Officer Sally Laka said this after two days of Facility Support and Assessment visit to the two CCHS Port Moresby Urban Clinics on the 2nd –3rd of March 2022. Pom CCHS was the pilot diocese for the M&E Facility support and assessment visits. Proposed dioceses to be visited in the coming weeks are Bereina, Vanimo, Wewak, Madang, and Bougainville.
The NCCHS team will be using a Checklist Questionnaire developed with the help of one of the SRHIP consortia, ASHM International Technical Advisor Nikki Teggelove. These visits and the checklist will enable the NCCHS M&E team to understand and create effective strategies and interventions to improve data quality and reporting for these facilities.
It was discovered through the collection of 2021 reports, that some SRHIP and other CCHS health facilities submitted inaccurate or incomplete HIV data through the National Health Information System and Surveillance Reporting templates.
The key areas of concern established was on:
- How to complete the reporting forms,
- Inaccurate transfer of data from source documents to the reporting forms,
- Pathways and structure of national and project reporting.
- Professional capacity for M&E
- Lack of data validation processes (data checks) at every level of reporting submission.
Supervisory visits to the dioceses are being conducted to ensure every person recording and reporting data is following the right processes.
LENT 2022: MESSAGE OF THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Lent is a favorable time for personal and community renewal, as it leads us to the paschal mystery of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. For our Lenten journey in 2022, we will do well to reflect on Saint Paul’s exhortation to the Galatians:
“Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up. So then, while we have the opportunity (kairós), let us do good to all” (Gal. 6:9-10).
Prayer For Ukraine
Heavenly Father, Your Son taught us “Blessed are the Peacemakers for they shall be called Children of God.”
In this time of great worry, we fervently pray that Your Holy Spirit sustain all the people of Ukraine to be vigilant and dedicated to peace and justice. Grant their leaders wisdom and prudence. Yet, may they also have the strength and perseverance to defend their land from all adversity and foreign attacks. Help us all to live according to your Divine Will.
O God, our Father, in the days to come, we beseech you to comfort the suffering, heal the wounded, and accept the souls of the faithful departed into Your Heavenly Kingdom. We ask also that the Most Holy Mother of God extend her blessed mantle of protection over Ukraine.
Amen.
Source: Ukraine Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family
CCHS PNG in Pictures
Dear Readers,
I encourage you to send in stories and pictures of your health activities on the ground to
comadvocacy@catholichealthpng.org or WhatsApp it to NCCHS phone 79820975
Important Dates 2022
April
3rd—World Autism Day
7th—World Health Day
15th— Good Friday
17th—Easter Sunday
18th—Easter Monday
25th—World Malaria Da
May
3rd—World Asthma Day
8th—Mother’s Day
12th—International Nurses Day
31st—World No Tobacco Day
June
5th—World Environment Day
13th—Queens Birthday
14th—World Blood Donor Day
19th—Fathers Day
Important Numbers
In the case of emergencies, do not hesitate to contact these emergency numbers.
COVID –19 Hotline:
1800 200
Domestic Violence:
715 8000
Reporting on Rape:
321 1714 or 320 3728
Family and Sexual Violence Unit:
3211397 or 3211714
Human Trafficking:
7100 7777
1 Tok Kaunseling :
715 8000
National Catholic Church Health Services
Head Quarter
P O Box 297
BOROKO,NCD
Tel: 3257198
Email: info@catholichealthpng.org
Website: catholichealthpng.org
