Quarterly Newsletter Apr– Jun 2021
Edition 2: Issue 8 – Date:29-06-2021
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 Inside
- National Health Secretary’s Message
- SRHIP Project Update
- CCHS Launched Official Website
- NCCHS Celebrates IND
- Staff Attends PSEAH & CP Workshop
- Dioceses Celebrates International Nurses Day
- Kuruk HSC receives new Ambulance
- CCHS Highlands Regional Meeting a Success
- VHVs Praised for Their Efforts
- Donations will Improve Service Delivery
- NCCHS COVID-19 Update
- Staff attends COVID-19 Workshop
- COM receives generous donations
- Diocese Update
CCHS Receives second donation from Pope Francis
His Holiness, Pope Francis has made another donation of Personal Protective Equipment and other essential equipment to the Catholic Church Health Services of Papua New Guinea on the 21st of May 2021.
The presentation of the donation was made by Father Jacek Pawel Pinocy Secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea to CCHS National Sercatary Sr Jadwiga Faliszek in Port Moresby.
Through his communications with the Holy See in Rome, the donations of PPEs, battery operated forehead thermometer and finger pulse oximeters were made possible.
“The Holy Father is thinking of everyone all over the world, though Rome is far, they immediately put together these gifts and sent them. “Father Jacek said.
Present at the mini ceremony was Bishop Deputy of Catholic Health Commission – Bishop Francis Meli, and staff of NCCHS.
This donation will be distributed to the 19 Dioceses in the country, where they will be further distributed to the CCHS health facilities in need of these equipment.
Bishop Francis thanked Fr Jacek on behalf of the Board of NCCHS and asked him to convey their deepest gratitude to His Holy Father, Pope Francis for his worthy cause and concern for the people of Papua New Guinea in delivering these gifts.
“He is a great shepherd in terms of Catholic Church but also we see how important he saw the need to assist developing nations during this global pandemic.” Bishop Francis said.
Sr Jadwiga also acknowledged the Holy Father’s kind gesture saying, the PPE’s and battery-operated equipment’s will be of great help to the CCHS staff, especially those serving in the rural and remote areas of the country.
“Most of the CCHS facilities do not have power supply due to their geographical location. The battery-operated equipment is currently on high demand at all the rural facilities.” Sr Jadwiga added.
The CCHS National Secretary is grateful that the Church is showing unity with CCHS PNG in this global pandemic. “Though PNG is all the way across the world, we see and appreciate that the Pope did not forget about us.” Sr Jadwiga said.
The first donation of PPE’s form the Pope received last year in November were distributed to the Dioceses and has helped in the fight against COVID-19.
SECRETARIES MESSAGE
I would like to acknowledge our national and diocesan teams as I observe our 2ndedition of the CCHS Pulse has turned out to be more colorful and meaningful. Thank you for sharing your stories, achievements and challenges. Someone once said “shared joy brings double joy, shared pain will make half the pain”. Let us keep this PULSE in its normal rate to communicate with our nurses at the facilities level, they are actually the ones who are regularly touching the lives of people when providing services. Let us never forget the role of our clinical staff. They are the first to welcome a new life, and the last ones to close the eyes of a dying person.
On the 12th of May we celebrated International Nurses day; It was a significant day for CCHS as we chose to launch our website and dedicate it to all our Clinical staff. Your hard and dedicated work makes us proud. Let us keep the website alive with all your stories. We will look for more information especially from the diocese, so it can be regularly updated and shared to the wider world. I am humbled to invite you all to prepare information from your respective diocese and health facilities that you like to share with others. Please visit our website page www.catholichealthpng.org for any new updates. A recent upload was the second donation of PPEs from His Holiness Pope Francis, it is amazing, how we are honored to get the help from the Vatican.
We are all living in a very difficult time of covid 19 that our services and movements are interrupted. By now, we should all know how to protect ourselves and others. I would like to thank you all, on behalf of the National team for your constant communication and updates.
We are privileged to have access to the COVID19 vaccines to protect ourselves and our populations in every province that is now available. On that note we would like to recommence our supervisory visits to the dioceses to follow up on outstanding recommendations from the 2019 financial audit. It has taken us awhile to implement the corrective measures indicated by the auditor and submit full report to the National Department of Health and other respective departments. Duty travel already started in the middle of June where two of our officers; Julie Pala and Priscilla Efi visited Kimbe. More trips and trainings will be conducted and we will communicate with you in advance. We will also be visiting provinces under SRHIP to follow-up with various agenda on integration.
Finally, I would like to wish you all the very best in your efforts to provide much needed health services to our people. I trust that you will all work within the parameters of the Niupla Pasin as we continue to extend our reach, care and compassion.
God Bless You All
Sr Jadwiga Faliszek
CCHS National Secretary
SHRIP UPDATE
The Sexual Reproductive Health Integration project will enter its final six months of implementation beginning July of this year. Since commencing the second phase of the project in July 2020, a number of mile stones have been achieved despite significant delays resulting from the COVID-19 restrictions. Over the past three months the project has mobilized support from international technical partners; ASHM (Australasian Society of HIV, Hepatitis B and Sexual Health Medicine) and Burnet Institute to develop information materials that either assist with service delivery or simply used to increase awareness on COVID-19 at the facility level. Awareness materials in the form of posters, flip charts and pamphlets have been developed through support from Burnet Institute. These materials once printed will be sent to the dioceses for their respective use. The materials are intended to create awareness among PLHIVs and the general patient folk. With Support from ASHM, a COVID-19 Health Facility Safety Plan has been developed. The plan has been put together after numerous consultation with CCHS and relevant COVID-19 safety measures for health facilities. It is anticipated that the plan will provide an algorithm for managing SARs-CoV-2 cases including but not limited to it being a guidance on deploying COVID-19 prevention measures. In addition, ASHM has been able to assist with brief facility assessments, focused primarily on the implementation of sexual reproductive health services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings have recently being released and discussions are currently underway with CCHS and ASHM on how certain recommendations can be followed up. It is evident through the findings that HIV and STI services have been provided without extensive interruptions which is a reassuring news for CCHS.
Community engagement opportunities and efforts continue to be challenged by the COVID-19 restrictions. The Expert Patient Counsellor (EPC) program has been affected to a certain extent where the EPCs had to be laid off temporarily. It would have been a high risk for EPCs who are considered even more vulnerable to move around during the pandemic. An alternate option for the EPCs will be to conduct mobile phone counselling which is yet to be explored by the project. A number of trainings will be conducted over the final six months. There will be two data quality workshops conducted, the first in July and the second in August. These workshops are intended to build capacity around local data monitoring and organization.
SRHIP ii is also looking toward supporting a COVID-19 training that involves point of care rapid testing. Through the training, it is anticipated that CCHS facilities will be able to support the current COVID-19 surveillance and provide relevant case management were appropriate.
Head Office News
CCHS Launched Official Website
The 12th of May 2021 marks another achievement and a step forward for the largest faith-based health care provider, the Catholic Church Health Services in Papua New Guinea.
A double celebration took place at the National Office in Boroko Port Moresby where CCHS launched their official website and celebrated the International Nurses Day. The theme “A voice to lead, a vision for health,” was embraced as it reflected what the website represented to CCHS staff in PNG.
The National CCHS Secretary, Sr Jadwiga Faliszek’ said “Today CCHS share its joy in celebrating another achievement, the official launch of our website to connect us digitally with the rest of the world,”
“We show our unity by sharing our work, achievements and the website will be an essential platform to showcase all of this.”
The event was witnessed by Dr Lucy John representing the National Department of Health Secretary, Chairman & Deputy Bishop for Health Most Reverend Bishop Francis Meli, General Secretary for Catholic Bishop Conference, the Australian High Commission and other Departmental representative, and Key stakeholders.
Addressing the launch as an achievement, Dr John said apart from the government Catholic Church is the biggest service provider in the country in terms of health and education and this website would now connect those far, near and help spread the work of the church in terms of health services.
“The Department of Health is happy to work in partnership with the Catholic Church to help deliver health services to the people, most especially in the rural areas of Papua New Guinea.”
Most Reverend Bishop Francis Meli had the privilege to officially launch the website and described it as a historical event for the Health Commission.
He congratulated the NCCHS team for their tireless efforts in ensuring the website’s success. “The launching shows a mission to promote life in all its fullness, to recognize the basic goodness of all people, promote pastoral care and the values of assisting each other to find a sense of fulfilment,” he said.
Highlighting the significance of International Nurses Day, he commanded the hard and relentless work they continue to provide for the Church and reminded them that the core responsibility of nurses was to provide patients with care.
NCCHS Celebrates IND
Despite limited resources, nurses in rural areas do their best to build patients trust and confidences before referring them for further medical assistance, an official says.
St Paul’s Nursing officer, William Vagi said that due to limited medical equipment’s and staff, sometimes they are unable to handle serious cases.
“When a patient arrives, we try to make sure they receive the best care we can provide, “he said. Mr Vagi shared this in his testimony as a nurse representing CCHS nurses on the International Nurses Day at the National Catholic Church Health Services in Boroko. CCHS also launched the organization’s official website in celebration on the same day. Among the invited guests present at the event, CCHS nurses and Health Manager, Sr Geraldine Arua of the Port Moresby Archdiocese were present to represent CCHS nurse all over PNG.
National Secretary for CCHS, Sr Jadwiga Faliszek, who is also a nurse by profession acknowledged nurses as hero’s, saying that despite the challenges nurses continue to serve everyone. She stationed in Enga Province for over 10 years and has experience the hardships that come with the job in a country like PNG.
“It is even more difficult at this time when we are faced with a global health crisis.” Sr Jadwiga said. The National Secretary thanked all the CCHS frontline health workers who are risking themselves and their families in dedication to this humble service.
“We are blessed, as we are called upon to care for people with love and compassion in our daily healing ministry.”
Other highlights of the day were the slideshow dedicated to all the CCHS nurses and the cake cutting.
Staff attends PSEAH & CP Workshop
Staff from the National Office of the Catholic Church Health Services attended a vital workshop on Prevention of Sexual Exploitation Abuse and Harassment & Child Protection on the 17th of June in Port Moresby.
The workshop was facilitated by Project Officer Maureen Lesley with co facilitator Silentia Tulem. Its objective was increase understanding and compliance of CCHS staff on PSEAH & CP in the workplace and how to report breach.
Deputy Bishop for Health, Bishop Francis Meli also participated in the workshop said all CCHS facilities must capture clear reports on violence and Gender Based Violence cases in their dioceses. This was said after the Monitoring and Evaluations Manager, Gaius Sabumei made a presentation of CCHS 2020 data of GBV, and sexual violence cases reported.
A few of the provinces showed a high rate of violence and GBV reported while others reported less than 50 cases reported in the whole year of 2020.
“Provinces that reported high numbers simply means they have a very reliable reporting system,” Sabumei said. The Health Secretary Sr Jadwiga Faliszek who was also present at the workshop agreed with Sabumei that the statistics presented is not reflecting what is really happening in the country.
“CCHS staff should be trained on how to report the cases at their facilities and what referral pathways are available.” Majority of the staff who attended the workshop described it as very informative.
Diocese News
Diocese Celebrates International Nurses Day
On the 12th May of 2021, we the Catholic Church Health Services staff commemorated the International Nurses Day by expressing our heartfelt gratitude and appreciation to our nursing staff around the country.
Most Dioceses began their day with a mess celebration and then proceed to speeches, light refreshments, entertainments and gift giving. The theme for this year is A VOICE TO LEAD, A VISION FOR HEALTH.
In Alotau, during the mass celebration, Fr Robert (PIME) said, “Many times when we are healthy we forget about the Nurses but when we are sick, they become very important in our lives. In our everyday life we forget we are breathing because of their blessed hands.
DHM Sr Nomita Rozario said that nurse if a profession full of difficulties and challenges with no thanks. She added that Nurses are hero’s with compassion as their Superpower.
Kuruk HSC receives new Ambulance
A brand-new ambulance was donated to Kuruk Health Subcentre by the Member for Mul Baiyer Koi Trappe on the 1st of April this year.
Mt Hagen Catholic Church Health Ser-vices, Manager Father Peter Ripa said though it was April fool’s day, God was Good to CCHS Mt Hagen. The ambulance is a gift from the Mul Baiyer Development Authority and the National Gaming Control Board.
Based on CCHS 2019 Biodata the health centre serves a catchment population of 4699 people. Officer in Charge for Kuruk HSC Shirley Olmi said their catchment population as since then increased to six or seven thousand. “We have not received the ambulance yet, but we are preparing and planning to use this gift to provide basic health care to the nine sites which comprise of our catchment population.” Olmi said. “We are grateful to the donors for their timely and thoughtful gesture,” she added. “The vehicle that we use to do referrals and other medical runs was out of commission since last year and it has been difficult for us ever since,” Olmi said.
She said it has been difficult to make immediate emergency referrals especially at night as there was no vehicle to transport the patients.
However, the staff of Kuruk HSC are relieved that the ambulance will help them greatly in terms of doing referrals, transporting medical supplies and providing outreaches into the communities.
Kuruk HSC is one of 9 CCHS facilities in Western Highlands province alone. It is situated in the Mul Baiyer District but also serves the people of Tambul Nebilyer District.
CCHS Highlands Regional Meeting a Success
The Catholic Church Health Services Highlands Regional meeting was conducted successfully at St Joseph Migende Rural Hospital in March.
22 participants who attended the meeting were mostly Diocesan Health Managers, Program Coordinators, finance and data officers from all the highlands dioceses.
Mendi DHM Wendy William and Jessie Bluno facilitated the meeting purposely to have each diocese learn from others about their experiences, challenges and discuss how they can overcome them.
In the two days, despite identifying problems that led to the consequences they face in their day to day operation, they were able to identify some major achievements.
Some of the achievements were the refresher trainings, increase and steady indicators in their data reporting, maintaining good working cooperation and so on.
Though there were several issues DHM for Simbu, Elisabeth Koai said it was apparent it is not the renumeration package on their employment but a call of the heart and compassion to serve as health workers.
“As a region, we encounter similar issues but managed them and continue to provide the basic health care,” she said.
Success comes when one persists and carry on, and that experience is very vital in life.
VHVs Praised for their Efforts
Village Health Volunteers in Tarabits are doing exceptional work to assist their people access proper health care services, says an official.
Diocesan Health Integration Officer, Sr Philomene Sanduku said this after a supervisory visit with the Diocesan Health Manager Eileen Liborius to Tarabits Health Sub-Centre in North Fly District on 21st April 2021.
Upon their arrival at the health Centre, they were interrupted unexpectedly by a group of VHVs transporting a 65-year-old man from Bainkout Village to the facility.
“They fashioned a carry stretcher out of bamboos and carried him to the health Centre,” Sr Philomene said.
The staff at the clinic thanked the VHVs and after taking vital signs of the patient, he was transferred to a bed in the general ward.
A proper examination helped the staff decide his referral to Rumginae Rural Hospital for further investigation to his condition. Since it was not an emergency case, and the team continued their sup visit.
Sr Philomena said, “We were able to be part of the audience on day three, to listen to the VHVs doing their work and we were impressed.”
The VHVs were trained under the Safe Motherhood funded by United Nations Population Fund and the Nutrition Program funded by United National Children’s Emergency Fund to assist health care workers in rolling out the programs in their local communities.
They received training last year to conduct.
Donations will Improve Service Delivery
Catholic Church Health Services of Daru Kiunga Diocese are proud recipients of generous donations from the United Nations Populations Fund in early April this year.
UNFPA Country Representative Marie Sanders officially opened a new maternity ward at Matkomnai Health Subcenter, donated a new 40 horsepower engine and a dinghy to CCHS Kiunga.
Present at the ceremony was the Provincial Administrator, a representative for Evangelical Church of PNG, Vicar General representing the Bishop, CCHS staff and the communities.
The donation of the dinghy will assist patient referrals, patrols and outreaches under the safe motherhood and neonatal care program. Diocesan Health Manager, Eileen Liborius said since their own dinghy was unserviceable for a long time, this dinghy will improve service delivery to facilities along the waterways like Membok Health Subcenter.
“It will relieve the agency by cutting down the cost of hiring dinghies and greatly assist the health workers in doing MCH, patient referrals, and transport medical and food supplies,” Liborius said.
Membok HSC is five hours by dinghy from Kiunga Town and serves more than 2,000 people including children. Serving a total of eight villages, the Center provides outpatient, maternal and child health including supervised deliveries, family planning, TB Testing, Microscopy and treatment, HIV testing and inpatient services.
The renovation of the maternity ward at Matkonai HSC will now see a lot of mother go through safe deliveries and have a space to rest before traveling back to their villages.
CCHS is grateful for the generous contribution and support of the UNFPA in helping them provide health service to the people of Western Province.
Sup Visit to Facilities Successful
In order to continue providing basic health care, supervisory visits need to take place, says an official.
Health Integration officer for Vanimo Catholic Church Health Services, Rachel Markus said they visited five out of nine CCHS facilities on 14th to 28th of April.
The main purpose was to ensure the staff understand the need for quality data reporting during this pandemic and to assist mentoring staff.
They addressed some of the challenges like late reporting’s, use of old versions of data tools, lack of incentive and deteriorating facilities.
Markus said one of the way forward is to conduct a refresher and provide on going training on sexual health in the diocese.
“The pandemic has made it difficult for some of the facilities, however, most improvised with what they have.”
Utai HSC is one perfect example, they built a traditional shelter out of bush materials to serve as a screening bay for patients.
COVID-19 CORNER
NCCHS COVID-19 Update
The second wave of COVID-19 this year posed a lot of challenges to the service delivery of Catholic Church Health Services. CCHS was not prepared to deal with the sudden surge in the number of cases across the country, hence some of its staff were infected, resulting in the closure and scale down of services in the dioceses.
The National Office in Port Moresby has been in constant contact with the dioceses for updates on the situation on the ground and working together to ensure people can still rely on CCHS.
There were many donations made in cash and in kind which helped to boost staff confidence in working together to fight the spread of COVID19 in the country.
CCHS is grateful for all the generous donations which has gone a long way in keeping the facilities open and the clinicians equipped to help the patients.
Under the Sexual Reproductive Health Integration Project, COVID-19 support messages have been sent to clinicians and health managers.
Some of the messages emphasize the importance of the COVID-19 vaccination. From the view of protecting people from dying from COVID19.
According to a statement from the National Control Centre on 16th of June 2021, a total of 44, 327 people have been vaccinated as at 16th of June. Out of the total, 6805 were health workers and the rest were essential workers.
The National office was able to coordinate the vaccination for more than 77 essential workers who received the vaccine at National Football Stadium in Port Moresby.
The National office is encouraging all its employees to receive the vaccination as the roll out continues.
Staff attends COVID-19 Workshop
Lae Catholic Church Health Services is the first church health service to receive a COVID-19 workshop in Morobe Province on the 28th of April 2021.
The workshop was facilitated by Sr Betty Mundua and Sharon Tirone from the Morobe Provincial Health Authority COVID-19 Surveillance, at the St Therese Parish Hall at Kamkumung.
About 33 clinical and non-clinical staff participated in the workshop which aimed to promote the safety of healthcare workers, the environment and how to use COVID-19 AgRDT for testing in health facilities.
Integration Officer, Samantha Tirang said, all the staff are now aware of COVID19 and are taking the protective measures as their number one priority.
“It’s very important that both the clinical and non-clinical staff are informed and aware of the pandemic so that we can work together to deliver a well-informed service to the public,”Tirang said.
“When we want to go do outreaches, we usually take our driver and our HIV counselors who are non-clinicians, so they are equally informed as our clinical staff.”
Tirang said the non-clinical staff are doing a great job controlling the crowds in the vicinity of the clinics and reminding patients to wash their hands as they enter and put on their face masks.
The workshop has also assisted two CCHS staff Juliet Wingavi and Awaru Mapio, go for further training on how to do screening and testing of COVID-19. However, they are yet to commence testing at their facility due to no proper set up of a COVID-19 station.
COM Recieves Generous Donation
ANIS Foundation Incorporate made some donation of COVID-19 materials and equipment to promote the New Normal Safety Measures. The donation was made to Centre of Mercy Urban Clinic in Lae on 8th June 2021.
AFI is a nongovernmental organization working in partnership with Churches and the government in community development activities. The donations came after some staff at the clinic attended a Hospital & Clinic Hygiene workshop facilitated by AFI.
Integration Officer, Samantha Tirang said AFI donated a flat screen to help the clinic display COVID-19 messages and cleaning supplies. They also installed a COVID-19 Preventive Measures billboard at the Mother Child Health section.
Sr Warren a Nursing officer who usually conducts the routine morning COVID-19 awareness to the patients thanked the ANIS Foundation on behalf of her colleagues.
“We are relieved and excited to make use of the screen and the billboard,” Warren said.
“We don’t have to repeat ourselves throughout the day as we have the TV and the billboard.”
Other essential equipment such as buckets, bleaches, hand sanitizers and spray containers were also donated to the clinic.
These supplies will be used to regularly clean the facility and even distributed to the other Lae CCHS facilities.
Upcoming important dates for 2nd Quarter
july
3 Feast of St Thomas, Apostle
10 World Population Day
14 Feast of Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha
15 Memorial of St Bonaventure NDoH Quarter 2 Review
23 National Remembrance Day
28 World Hepatitis Day
30 National Tooth Brushing Day
August
1-7 Word Breast Feeding Week
4 Memorial of St John Vianney
6 Feast of the Transfiguration
10 Feast of St Lawrence-International Day Against Sorcery
11 Memorial of St Clare of Assisi
12 International Youth Day
14 Feast of St Maximilian Kolbe
15 Solemnity of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
20 Memorial of St Bernard, Ab & D
21 Memorial of St Pius X, Pope
24 Feast of St Bartholomew, Apostle
26 Repentance Day
September
3 Memorial of St Gregory the Great, Po & D
4 World Sexual Health Day
8 Feast of the Birth of Mary
9 Memorial of St Peter Claver, Priest
10 World Suicide Prevention Day
13 Memorial of St John Chrysostom, B& D
15 Memorial of Our Lady of Sorrow
16 PNG Independence Day
17 World Patient Safety Day
26 World Environmental Safety Day
27 Memorial of St Vincent De Paul
29 World Heart Day-Feast of Sts. Michael, Gabriel & Raphael, Archangels
30 Memorial of St Jerome, P & D
ImPORTANT 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 : 7158000
Catholic Church Health Services
Head Quarter P O Box 297 BOROKO,NCD Tel: 3257198 Email: info@catholichealthpng.org Website: catholichealthpng.org
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