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Fourth quarter newsletter – 2021

Quarterly Newsletter  Oct – Dec 2021

Issue 10

CCHS logo
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
nhp
Pope Donates Medical Equipment to CCHS
Donations from the Pope
The Apostolic Nuncio of PNG, His Excellency Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez, the Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature, Mons. Jacek Pinocy and the NCCHS staff during the presentation and blessing of the Medical Equipment’s at Boroko.

By Jelilah Kum

The Apostolic Nuncio to PNG, His Excellency Fermín Emilio Sosa Rodríguez, on behalf of His Holiness Pope Francis presented a third-round of COVID-19 Medical Equipment to the Catholic Church Health Services on the 17th of November in Port Moresby.

Packages containing respirators, masks, battery operated oximeters, and other important items were handed over by the Nuncio during a brief blessing ceremony at the CCHS national office in Boroko. Apart from the donation in kind, the Nuncio gave a check worth of ten thousand kina.

“I have the honor and pleasure as the representative of His Holiness Pope Francis, on his behalf, to convey to the people of Papua New Guinea a gift consisting of medical equipment which the Holy Father wishes to assist in the face of the pandemic.” The Nuncio said.

“This gesture highlights the continuous solicitude of Pope Francis for PNG and expresses his concern for the people and for the Church in Oceania”.

The Archbishop was appointed as the Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea on the 31st of March 2021. This was His Excellency’s first official public engagement after he had presented his Credential Letter to Governor General Sir Bob Dadae. As ambassador of the Pope he will be reporting directly to the Holy See on diplomatic and church matters of the country.

Extending the Holy Father’s invite in staying united, and helping each other, he quoted the Address of His Holiness Pope Francis to the Members of the Diplomatic Corps Accredited to the Holy See, 8 February 2021. “2021 is a time that must not be wasted. And it will not be wasted if we can work together with generosity and commitment. In this regard, I am convinced that fraternity is the true cure for the pandemic and the many evils that have affected us. Along with vaccines, fraternity and hope are, as it were, the medicine we need in today’s world.”

His Excellency expressed his gratitude to the staff of CCHS for their hard work in which has been and will be the source of hope for many people.

“I encourage you to continue your generous service in the spirit of fraternity as the Holy Father is inviting us. I am sure that this donation will be of help in treating patients infected with the coronavirus and will make it a little bit easier to be a brother or a sister to those afflicted.”

National Catholic Health Secretary Sr Jadwiga Faliszek accepted the donations saying, “We are blessed and humbled to receive continuous support from the Holy Father. I assure you that everything we get we treasure and look after well, remembering that through this support and care the people will receive healing.”

St Mary’s Hospital in East New Britain and Raihu Hospital in West Sepik will be receiving this round of donations as it contains respiratory machines that rural doctors working there will need.

Sr Jadwiga stressed that it is important for the staff to not charge patients as these are donations from the Pope which is a blessing and must be given or used freely to help those who cannot afford.

The first donation was made last year and the second mid this year. Both were successfully distributed to the dioceses.

xmas tree and gifts

SECRETARIES MESSAGE

Greetings to you all,

I would like to welcome everyone to our 4th edition of the CCHS
Pulse newsletter for 2021 as we explore new and exciting stories
highlighting our work across the country. Although the COVID-19
Pandemic has taken a toll on us all, we have strived to continue our
normal operations by adhering to COVID-19 Preventative measures
in all our health facilities and have done remarkably well in offering
our services.

As we go into the season of Advent, let us reflect and prepare
ourselves to begin the new year with renewed hope, faith and love for
the service we give.

I congratulate all our dedicated and hardworking staffs for their
continuous contribution in helping our people receive the right
treatment that they need physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
We also remember our hardworking staff, whom we’ve lost during
this year and pray that their souls find eternal peace in God’s grace.
CCHS has received generous donations in kind in this quarter. I
would like to take this time to thank His Holiness Pope Francis for
his third donation of medical equipment to the CCHS. It was
presented by the Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea, His
Excellency Most Reverend Fermin Emilio Sosa Rodrigues. Also, I
would like to congratulate His Excellency on his official appointment
as the Apostolic Nuncio to Papua New Guinea on the 31st of March
2021 and choosing to present the donations as his first official public
engagement.

I would also like to acknowledge the Payroll staff at the National
Office for their great effort in successfully centralizing payroll for all
Dioceses in the country. A total of over 1,800 clinicians and support
officers are paid salaries direct from the National Office. It was an
achievement for us.

I am pleased to say that we have successfully conducted capacity
building activities and workshops facilitated by CCHS. Significant
training programs conducted in this quarter are Monitoring AND
Evaluations Training, Health Safety Facility training in Southern
Highlands and the Leadership training for all Health Managers. We
have also done some progress in Youth and Adolescent Health
Advocacy Program.

We are humbled and thankful that our work is the continuation of the
healing Ministry of Jesus Christ.

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year
2022

Sr Jadwiga Faliszek
CCHS National Secretary

Remembering Staff who passed away

During this year 2021, CCHS has lost several long
serving and hardworking staff, loved ones and
family members. We would like to convey our deepest
and utmost thoughts and prayers to the CCHS staff
who have passed on to be with the Heavenly Father.
They were loyal colleagues to some and special
friends to many, today we honor and remember their
lives. Let us reflect, mourn, and share memories of
colleagues and give dignity to those who have left us.
Each one of their lives are a blessing to us.
Let us pray for their souls to rest in peace.
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let
perpetual light shine upon them. May their souls and
the souls of all the faithful departed, through the
mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.
Like the seed buried in the ground, you have
produced the harvest of eternal life for us;
make us always dead to sin and alive to God.”

Churches throughout PNG are
supporting the call for COVID-19
vaccinations. Vaccines are the best
way to protect you and your loved
ones from serious illness and even
loss of life from COVID-19 and its
variants.
Continue to follow #NiupelaPasin
measures, even after vaccination,
to help stop the spread.

Cardinal

Head Office News

SRHIP II Extension - Impact on M&E Data
Madang Health Manager Nola Marita during the SRHIP Review workshop in February 2021.

The Sexual Reproductive Health Integration Project phase two has been extended to December 2022.
Catholic Church Health Services Project Director Gra-ham Apian said the extension is a continuation of everything under SRHIP II that began in July of 2021.
The strategic intent of the project is to address four outcomes which are.
(i) Strengthen integrated systems for management, monitoring and evaluation of high performing projects and services.
(ii) Strengthen integrated services providing high-quality HIV and sexual health care.
(iii) Strengthen partnerships supporting a harmonized national and provincial HIV & sexual health response, and
(iv) Strengthen engagement with community and key populations promoting univer-sal access to quality HIV and sexual health services.
COVID-19 restrictions imposed by PNG COVID-19 National Pandemic Response caused some delays and affect-ed several planned activities under the project.
“Most of the activities that we planned especially on trainings, a bit on integration follow up processes and some workshops and meetings were delayed as a result of the covid-19 restrictions.” Apian said.
The project director added that all the activities mentioned has been pushed to next year, which they aim to complete in the extended phase.
Despite the delays, the high-lights of SRHIP in 2021 included two trainings on monitoring and evaluations and a review workshop that includ-ed 11 Health Managers and their Integration officers in the provinces.
Through the project St Therese and St Paul Urban Clinics managed minor infrastructure adjustments to respective clinics that allowed for COVID19 triaging, while St Joseph VCCT clinic in Goroka was redeveloped to function as an Urban clinic.
“St Joseph is currently under review and will soon be registered under the standards of an Urban Clinic,” Apian said.
Other SRHIP provinces have reached out with the same intension to build facility extension for triaging. To which, the project director said they will do an assessment based on the need in the province and of the facility and provide funds accordingly.

Payroll takes on all Dioceses
Payroll Officers David Aigilo and Tasia Gima at their work stations are part of the team responsible for entering each diocese into the payroll system at national office in POM.

By Helena Solien CCHS Communication Intern

NCCHS has successfully centralized payroll for all 19 diocese using Attache payroll system as of November 2021.
Archdiocese of Mt Hagen and Jiwaka were the first to go onto the system in 2019. The Diocese of Bougainville was the last and final to be added.
This momentous achievement has been in the making for almost 2 years when the National CCHS Secretary visualized a central pay system for CCHS as they prepare for the Government operated Alesco payroll.
NCCHS Payroll Officer Julie Pala said, the system helped them to report the exact amount being paid to each staff.
Before the payroll centraliza-tion, the national office did monthly grant allocations for each diocese to pay their own staff. However, since the centralization, everyone is being paid at the same time and direct from the national office.
Pala said the initial challenge was the planning and collating of information when they were first introduced to the system. Although we encountered some challenges at the national level, this helped to communicate and understand each individual diocese and its struggles.
The centralization has assisted the national office in the management and allocation of funds so that future staff recruitments will be in line with the staff ceiling for each diocese.

Diocese News

UNICEF NUTRITION PROJECT COMPLETED
VHVs and CCHS staff listening to Sr Philomene Sanduku talking and a UNICEF Officer talking during one of their outreach programs.

By Jelilah Kum

Catholic Church Health Services in Western province with support from the CCHS National Office successfully completed the rollout of the Nutrition Project on the 30th of June 2021.
The project was funded by the United Nation Children’s Fund (Unicef) to provide critical nutrition services for COVID-19 affected populations in Kiunga starting on the 1st of September 2020.
Stakeholders and implementing partners included the National Department of Health, Western Provincial Health Authority, Daru Kiunga Diocese Heath Team, Evangelical Church of Papua New Guinea Health Services, and the North Fly District Health Services.
CCHS Sub-Health Centers Matkomnai, Membok, Kungim and Katawin Aid posts along with the EPNGs Rural Hospital Rumginau were the implement-ing facilities over the 9 months of the project.
CCHS Project Officer at the time, Nancy Aloitch reported that the successful outcome reflected the commitment and engagement of all the partners whose collaborative efforts were commendable.
The outcome was based on five performance indicators which are.

i. Number of children aged 6-59 months (about 5 years) who received Vitamin A supplementation.

ii. Number of children aged 6-59 months who received Multiple Micronutrient Powder.

iii. Number of children aged 6-59 months with severe acute malnutrition who are admitted for treatment.

iv. Number of primary caregiv-ers of children aged 0-23 months who received IYCF counselling through facilities and community platforms.

v. Number of pregnant and lactating women receiving nutrition education includ-ing infant and young child feeding practices.

Four out of the five Nutrition Indicators showed favorable outcomes however only one did not meet the target as it require hospital records.
“There were cases identified, referred and admitted to Rumgi-nae Rural and Kiunga District Hospitals for appropriate management, treatment and care, however hospital records are not easily accessible”, Aloitch said.
Health care workers and Village Health Volunteers who were trained to participate in the project were very instrumental in the project’s success. Their active participation resulted in the increase on nutritional inter-vention activities conducted within the catchment areas of the health facilities.
Apart from the project imple-mentation, CCHS as a faith base organization was required to incorporate a policy on Prevent-ing Sexual Exploitation, Abuse and Harassment (PSEAH) into its organizational policy. All the staff at the national CCHS office underwent a sensitization training and plan to roll out the training down to the dioceses.

SIMBU PREPARES SLA
Peter Kelly and Sr Erikeve receiving the donation of mattress from SiPHA.

By: Jelilah Kum

CCHS Simbu is working on a Service Level Agreement to formalize and strengthen the existing partnership with their Provincial Health Authority before the end of 2021.
CCHS of Simbu has had a great working relationship with their PHA for over 50 years with 10 facilities providing primary health care mostly in the rural areas of the province.
Health Manageress, Elisabeth Koai said they are grateful to PHA especially during this pandemic period as they have received great help and support from them.
“We already have a great partnership going, now we just need to sign the agreement and make our partnership official” Koai said.
She acknowledged the support they received from NCCHS, Kundiawa Diocese, Australian Government, other donors, and people of Simbu in terms of financial aid, PPE’s, trainings, and voluntary services.
Financial Aid this year had enable Migende Rural Hospital to build a triage building and renovate their old pediatric ward as an isolation ward for COVID-19.
After the completion of the ward, more than 40 COVID-19 patients have been isolated in the ward.
CCHS Disease Control Officer Peter Kelly made a request to SiPHA for assistance which resulted the donation of 12 mattresses, pillows, patient rations and additional fuel assistance of K7000.
Kelly also highlighted some of the challenges faced regarding the hospitals needs including oxygen, nutrition rehabilitation program, manpower issues, waste management and laundry facilities requirement.

RENOVATION ENABLES SERVICE EXPANSION
PPTCT is a much needed health service in all health facilities.

Byline: Jelilah Kum

Banz Urban Clinic is now able to fully provide the Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission (PPTCT) program to the people of North Waghi District in Jiwaka Province.
Officer in Charge of the clinic Paul Zulu said they have offered the program in the past however it was not effective until the building renovation in 2020.
“The clinic has three PLHIV mothers who attend the program when they visit the clinic.” Zulu said.
The esteemed officer-in charge said one has already delivered, however due to financial hardships, she was not able to bring her baby to the clinic for testing and treatment.
The PPTCT program offers a range of services for women of reproductive age living with or at risk of HIV to maintain their health and stop their infants from acquiring HIV. These programs are offered before conception and throughout pregnancy, labor, and breastfeeding. In countries like PNG, infant infections occur during the postnatal period due to the high rates of woman who leave care.
Apart from the program, the clinic has reported an increase in number of patients attending its other services since the renovation.
“That is because many preferred to come here due to the way our staff treat and care for them and because of the clean and well-kept environ-ment” Mr Zulu said.
The clinic is the only Catholic Church Health Services Urban Clinic operating normally in the province along with three sub-health centers and one aid post.

MIGENDE CELEBRATES PNG’S 46TH INDEPENDENCE
Nurse Michelin Takai reading a poem to honor PNG’s independence.

By Ellena Aswe

“Growth and Development will come in its own good time, but at this moment, it is our duty and responsibility to take care of whatever that is available to us. “
Simbu Health Manager Elisabeth Koia said this during her Independence Celebration at St. Joseph’s Rural Hospital, Mingende.
It was a day of colors at the hospital grounds on Thursday 16th of September 2021.
Families assembled early in the morning dressed in our national colors in both modern and traditional attire: Black, Gold and Red. The Papua New Guinean Flag rose solemnly to meet the top of the pole as children and parents sang the National Anthem to honor its ascent.
Fr. John Pari, the hospital’s chaplain blessed the flag and opened the celebration with a prayer while a young nurse, Michaleyn Takai read a
poem that moved most the crowd to tears. Children also composed and sang an Anthem for Simbu. Feelings of unity and pride was felt at that colorful morning was like never before.
Thursday ends the four-day program organized to commemorate PNG’s 46th Independence Anniversary. The organizing committee led by Mr. Sumai Wel, a senior nursing officer arranged activities ranging from dances, both ethnic and modern to volleyball games, fun activities and dressing competition. Each section of the hospital campus was divided into six color houses. Red, Yellow, Green, Purple, Blue and Black. Purple House won the volleyball tournament, while Green house was the runner up to the volleyball competition. Mandang and the Niugini Islands Dances gave a highlight to the whole event, with the traditional beats of kundu drums and shouts, made hearts soared right up to the skies. The Madang Group won the price for best ethnic dance.
District Administrator for Kundiawa Gembogl, Alphonse Kawage on behalf of the Minister for Police, Hon. Willie Onguglo, gave a surprise visit and presented K5, 000.00 in cash to the Organizing Committee earlier in the morning. Contribution from staff, support staff and CHSS Management all added to cater for celebration’s cost.
Prices were awarded to the teams and the Independence Dinner was shared by all, I ncluding the inpatients and their guardians. Students from the Divine Word University and Kundiawa College of Nursing on Practical Training also took part in this celebration.
St. Joseph’s, a pearl for its people, has come a long way, from its humble beginnings to what it is now. As Sr. Elizabeth has said and it is set to endure and move on. There could never be a day more significant to reflect than the independence of Papua New Guinea. Our forefather’s dream to be an independent nation coming true. Unity in Diversity.

DWU students join purple house and won the volleyball comp.
MOROBE COMMEMORATES WAD
Staff from Mary Queen of Peace doing HIV testing during the WAD

By: Samantha Tirang

Every year on World AIDS Day, Catholic Church Health Services staff and their patients around the country commemorate the day with dedication mess followed by awareness and Voluntary HIV Testing. Bishop of Lae Diocese, Bishop Rozario Menezes commemorated the day with Lae’s Center of Mercy (COM) health center’s staff, patients and the surrounding community based on the theme: “Pinisim HIV: Wankain Luksave, Nek bilong yumi.”
During the speeches, a mother living with HIV stepped forward and thanked all the health workers at the COM health center for their hard work and constant support to people living with HIV.
Living with HIV for the past 11 years, she is a proud mother to two healthy and HIV free children. The COM clinic has been able to register 85 negative babies born to 52 positive mothers since 2013.
She shared with the people present on how the Anti-Retroviral therapy (ART) helped her to live a normal life and start a family.
Health Integration Officer for Lae Catholic Church Health Services Samantha Tirang said that the story of this mother touched and encouraged a lot of people including other patients to come forward and get help.
“Our statistics show that since 2013, we have 566 HIV+ patients registered in our database with 325 actively on ART and others either trans-ferred or are lost to follow up case,” Tirang said.
In addition to the COM clinic, two other CCHS facilities also commemorated the day with activities. A combine total of over 100 tests have been conducted across all three clinics at the end of the day. This is one of the highest average of tests done in a single day for the diocese.
Tirang said some have even arranged in advance to be tested on WAD therefore testing will continue to Friday of the week. The day ended with light refreshment and exchanges. It was all smiles as everyone was given a red ribbon as they depart. CCHS facilities around the country also commemorated the day in prayer and awareness.

 

Staff at Yampu HC ready to go out and do HIV awareness on WAD, in Enga.
POM St Therese staff doing awareness around their catchment areas Hohola.
Staff of Daru Kiunga Diocese advocating to the small group that gathers to commemorate the day at Tarabits HSC
Yampu health workers ready to start the day with a smile.
MADANG CONTINUES OUTREACH PLAN
Elisabeth James and CCHS team doing awareness at Tauya Village.

By: Jelilah Kum

Madang CCHS aims to provide clear and accurate COVID-19 information to its facilities catchment population in a three-month long outreach program.
The outreach program kicked off right after CCHS Madang staff received training on how to conduct COVID-19 awareness, testing and vaccination in the province.
The team has already visited catchment areas of Alexishafen, Utu, Tabel, Botola and Brahman health facilities and are now preparing for their next outreach activities in Mugil Health Center. CCHS Madang has 15 health facilities.
Madang CCHS Health Integration Officer Aileen Watakapura said they want to provide clear and accurate information to people and give them the opportunity to make the right decisions themselves.
Before conducting outreach in communities, the team run a leadership advocacy meeting for community leaders and group representatives as they are key influential people in their communities.
Watakapura said as soon as people get clear and accurate information, those who were hesitant in the first place came forward voluntarily to do tests and putting their names down to get vaccinated.
The spread of misinformation on social media caused people to respond negatively to outreaches and routine health activities.
“One area is the decline in our immunization coverage, our indicators are severely affected and a way to get it back on track is through more awareness programs.” Watakapura said.
The integration officer is encouraging colleagues to work together with local partners, NGOs and government departments in sharing plans, ideas, and resources.
“We need to stay united in this fight so we will regain people’s trust in our profession as health workers.” Watakapura said. “It’s the way forward to effectively break barriers created by C-19 in households, communities and society as a whole.”
“Keep up the good work in your respective dioceses. Continue the awareness programs, eventually, more people will be informed and will voluntarily make good choices to get vaccinated. Together we will beat the fight against Covid-19.”

A staff giving the COVID-19 vaccine to a volunteer.

FEATURE STORY

A CHILD WITH SPECIAL NEEDS
Two year old Jack with his caring mother after his wounds were bandaged by a health worker.

By: James Pesop (OIC- Kema Aid Post)

Little Jack is a two-year-old boy who has lower limb gangrene. It has left him with severe pain on his lower limbs which has resulted in him having restless nights. Lower Limb Gangrene is a dead tissue caused by an infection or lack of blood flow.

Little Jacks parents were treating their child’s swollen and painful limbs at home until one day they decided they must try take him to a health facility. They were desperate as they do not have any money to pay the outpatient fees, however the health workers at Kema Aidpost took the baby in and put him on Amoxicillin and paracetamol for five days.

Kema aid post is in Mendi /Munhiu district of Southern Highlands Province and serves the neighbouring Nipa/Kutubu district, Komo/ Magarima district of Hela and Kandep district of Enga provinces respectively. The aid post has more than 15, 000 catchment population with only two Community Health Workers serving the people there. Kema aid post provides Antenatal clinic, delivery, minor surgery, school health, maternal and child health, STI/HIV screening and testing, counselling, inpatients, and outpatients. Even though the facility has no proper admission ward, the community used available bush materials and built a thatched inpatient ward especially for post-natal mothers and severe illnesses that needs to be stabilised before referral for further management. This was where little Jack was admitted and regularly supervised for five days by the health workers.

After the five days of supervision, Jack’s situation was not improving and so he was referred to Mendi Provincial Hospital for further investigation and management.

Coming from a rural area, Jack’s parents could not pay for his medical supplies from a nearest Centre as they were financially distressed. Out of the kindness of those at Kema aid post, they used the outpatient’s collection fee to provide bus fare for Jack’s parents and he was referred to Mendi Provincial Hospital. The surrounding local villages sometimes support the facility with garden food especially for those neglected or are admitted at the aid post.
Little Jack was admitted for six weeks at Mendi Hospital. After being discharged, his parents always bring him to Kema Aidpost for his dressings to be changed. Eventually the dead tissues peeled off with the phalanges leaving behind the feet.

During Jacks admission, the Kema health facility has struggled with providing proper admission house. Jack could not sleep well on the wooden bed while experiencing pain. He will also need a wheel chair while growing up for him to move around.

Jack’s case was indeed a challenge for the staff at Kema Aid Post because children like Jack will never stay the same. It is our job and our responsibility to provide them with tools to have every success possible. In the end of the day, they are our inspiration, and they will be the ones to surprise us.

COVID-19 NEWS

NUNCIO: EFFECTS OF THE PANDEMIC
Apostolic Nuncio addressing the staff of CCHS at the national office during the donation of medical equipment.

By: Helena Solien

On Wednesday 17th of November, His Excellency Most Reverend Fermin Emilio Sosa Rodrigues as the representative of Pope Francis in PNG conveyed a gift to the National Catholic Church Health Services consist-ing of medical equipment which the Holy Father wishes to donate to assist during the COVID19 pandemic.
He encouraged health care workers and catholic faithful to play their part and be responsible to break transmission and end the pandemic. “If we do not play our part the pandemic will never finish. That is why we have to put all efforts in order to find solutions to mitigate its effects,” said the Nuncio.
“We have to put in our efforts, our charism and our hearts in everything that we’re doing in finding that unity to fight against the decease”, He added.
“There have been a lot of speculations about the vaccination, but the statistics show us that those who are vac-cinated have less chance to finish intubated or in the morgue”. He invited those who still not being vaccinated to think better their decision and appeal to their conscience in finding out a real reason why they chose not to be vaccinated.
“This is a very difficult time not only for Papua New Guinea but for the whole world. This is a real decease but taking the vaccine and following all the protocols is the way to take care”, says the Reverend.
According to the Nuncio, it is true that the government has its responsibility in taking care of the health of the population, but it is also true that each citizen has to assume his or her own responsibility as well to take care of themselves, their family, friends, and other people. A radical decision taken by some governments may come from the frustration provoked by the lack of response of the people.
He acknowledges the health care workers for their efforts. Without them, it would have been worse. The front liners are the ones to help those who are sick.

TRAINING COMBATS MISINFORMATION
CCHS staff attending the training at Village Inn

By Joseph Angli, Diocese Health Integration Officer
Wewak:

The staff of Catholic Church Health Services East Sepik completed a successful two-day training on COVID-19 funded by Save the Children on the 9 -10 of November at Village Inn in Wewak.
Thirteen participants who attended the training were selected from health facilities that have not received any previous trainings regarding the pandemic.
A pretest session and expectations from the participants revealed that the health workers have limited to little knowledge about the virus and the vaccines.
also, It also suggested that they lack proper skills and knowledge to do awareness effectively on the subject and at the same time were unable to dispel myths and misinformation with facts.
The participants were much more confident after the training and were keen to share their experiences and knowledge gained with coworkers and their patients.
Martin Magosik of Yarapos Aid post said that the train-ing was important and the knowledge he gained was new and dispels most of his doubts and as-sumptions about both the virus and the vaccine.
The training was funded by Save the Children Project office in East Sepik with the support of East Sepik Provincial Authority who provided two facilitators, Health Extension Officers Veronica Maiwax and Winnie Sagiu.
Contents covered were: Myths about the Coronavirus and Vaccines, The Virus, Vaccines and Side effects, Facts about Coronavirus and Vaccines, Crisis Management, Interpersonal Communication and Vaccine Hesitancy and Immunization Updates.
It was delivered through power point presentations with group discussions, question and answer session and experience sharing.
The highlight of the training was the presentation of reference booklets, National Operational Guideline for Covid-19 Vaccine Deployment 2021.

MOPHA ISSUES CIRCULAR TO ALL STAFF

By: Helena Solien CCHS Communication Intern

Morobe: The Morobe Provincial Health Authority issued a circular to all its staff on the 27th of October 2021 after health workers were attacked during routine runs. Situation in Morobe has not been good around the vaccination. The CCHS Morobe’s Ambulance was stoned while health workers were carrying awareness on routine immunization.
Diocesan Health Manager, Sr. Dr. Pauline Mpongo said, “The Morobe PHA sent a circular to stop all mobile activities but to have statics activities within the vicinity of the clinic. PHA sup-ported us with two guards to control the inflow of patients at the entrance.”
Responding to the incident, the MoPHA has issued a circular instruction to resolve the recent problem. Here are the procedures health workers will adhere to;
i. Stop all mobile Clinics be it COVID-19 related or routine to ceased immediately.
ii. All services including vaccinations for COVID-19 or routine will only be carried out at the Clinic Sites.
iii. People and or companies who wish to get their employees vaccinated will have to go to an established clinic to get the vaccines.
iv. We ask for community support and ask the leaders to take lead and advice the communities not to attack our staff.
v. MoPHA will be seriously considering halts to its services to any community with catchment area of a facility if its staff are harassed continually.
MoPHA management asks for everyone’s support during these times of uncertainty caused by COVID-19. Together we all can stand a better chance to get through this.

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 Vio-lence Unit:
3211397 or 3211714

Human Trafficking:
7100 7777

1 Tok Kaunseling :
7158000

PICTORIALS

Welcome & Appreciation to CCHS Staff joining the team in 2021.

We sincerely thank all CCHS staff for their hard work, dedication and commitment towards the health services that they provide to Papua New Guineans, mainly in remote and rural areas. All your work is truly commendable, and we appreciate all your contribution to the commission.
To the staff, we greatly appreciate your dedicated years of services and loyalty to our commission. We have seen all your efforts and hard work, and we cannot thank you enough. We value your sacrifices in helping the healing ministry (health commission) grow to where it is today.
To our new staff, we warmly welcome you. It is a privilege for us to have you, hence, to learn from you as well. We look forward to hear new and bright ideas from you all.
To our Staff that have retired we will miss your presence and your exceptional work towards the services you provide. Although it is sad for us to see you go, we hope you all remain happy and healthy.
We wish you all the very best in your new chapter ahead.

“The true joy of
Christmas is the love of Christ, shared with family and friends. May you find His peace, love and joy in the coming New Year.”

Important Upcoming Dates 2022

Jan 1: New Years Day

Feb 4: World Cancer Day

Feb 9: World Toothache Day

Feb 11: World Day of the Sick

Mar 1: Zero Discrimination Day

Mar 8: International Womens Day

Mar 10: World Kidney Day

Mar 21: World Down Syndrome Day

Mar 22: World Environment Day

Mar 24: World TB Day

CCHS logo

National Catholic Church Health Services
Head Quarter
P O Box 297
BOROKO,NCD
Tel: 3257198
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World Mental Health Day

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WORLD

MENTAL HEALTH

DAY

MENTAL HEALTH IN AN UNEQUAL WORLD

In the past 18 months, since the detection of the first COVID-19 case in Papua New Guinea, we were able to clearly see the inequality around us. More than 75% of our population in the country have had or are experiencing mental health conditions with no treatment at all.

Throughout the pandemic we have seen several issues in terms of economic, financial, social, religious and health having negative consequences on people lives and their mental health. People who are suffering from pre-existing mental health conditions are also greatly affected as they face more discrimination and negligence at this point in time. Young people and children are also trying to cope with the disruptions to their normal routines and lifestyles in terms of their education, physical and social life.

Many people are facing financial hardships due to the loss of their jobs and livelihoods. Some struggled with their own physical health while also worrying about the health of their loved ones. Others battled effects of the disease through the loss of a loved one, while a few had to deal with isolation from family and friends all alone in a foreign country. We also cannot deny the increase in crime rates especially wife bashing, rape cases, cuttings and killings, tribal fights and robberies which causing public fear among the population. There have also been a lot of controversies about religious beliefs and the COVID-19 vaccines which has created confusion and panic among the illiterate population of the country.

During these period of the pandemic, Catholic Church Health Services has seen an influx of patients in the outpatients and inpatients in most of its health facilities. As first responders, our health workers face many stressors. When hospitals or major health center’s close or reduce their services, our health workers had to accommodate the increase in number of patients and at the same time deal with the constant shortage of Personal Protective Equipment’s. The widespread of misinformation about COVID-19 and people not adhering to the Protective Health Measures has also contributed to the fear and anxiety experienced by our health workers. All these leads to staff being overworked, which results in burnout and can also lead to depression.

Here are some of the things you need to know about depression:

  • Depression can happen to ANYONE and is not a sign of weakness.
  • They are characterized by persistent sadness and loss of interest in activities that you normally enjoy, accompanied by difficulty carrying out daily activities.
  • People with depression also normally experience several of the following: loss of energy; change in appetite; sleeping more or less; anxiety; reduced concentration; indecisiveness; restlessness; feelings of worthlessness, guilt, or hopelessness; thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
  • But don’t worry. Depression can be treated – with talking therapies, medication, or both.

What you can do if you are feeling depressed:

  • Talk to someone you trust about your feelings – most people find that talking to someone who cares about them helps.
  • Seek professional help – your local health-care worker or doctor is a good place to start.
  • Try to keep doing at least some of the activities that you usually enjoy.
  • Stay connected with friends and family.
  • Exercise regularly – even if it’s just a short walk.
  • Stick to regular eating and sleeping habits as much as possible.
  • Avoid or restrict alcohol intake and don’t use illicit drugs – they can make depression worse.
  • If you feel suicidal, contact someone you trust for help, or ring the emergency services (1-Tok Kaunseling Line on tollfree 71508000.
  • Remember: With the right support you can get better – so if you think you might be depressed, seek help.

Remember: With the right support you can get better – so if you think you might be depressed, seek help.

If know you know someone who is showing signs of depression here’s how you can help them while taking care of yourself.

  • Make it clear that you want to help, listen without judgement, and offer support.
  • Find out more about depression – talking to someone you know who has recovered or a local health worker are good places to start.
  • Encourage them to seek professional help and offer to go with them to appointments.
  • If they’re prescribed medication, help them remember to take it.
  • Be patient – recovery can take time.
  • Help them with everyday tasks and to have regular eating and sleeping patterns.
  • Encourage regular exercise and social activities.
  • But be mindful that trying to do too much can be stressful and make depression worse.
  • Encourage them to focus on the positive, rather than the negative.
  • If they’re thinking about self-harm, or have already intentionally harmed themselves, don’t leave them alone. Seek help from the emergency services or a health-care professional. And remove items such as medicines, sharp objects, and firearms.
  • Take care of yourself too. Try to find ways to relax and continue doing things you enjoy.

Remember: When you live with someone with depression, you can help them recover, but its important to look after yourself.

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Third quarter newsletter – 2021

Quarterly Newsletter  Jul–Sep 2021

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Issue 09

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
  • M&E Master Training a Success
  • CCHS signs contract with APNG WLN
  • Revised template helps dioceses
  • Families urged to share
    parenthood responsibilities
  • Pom Clinics get new computers
  • Lae CCHS staff completes prescribers training
  • ASRH Workshop a Success
  • Clinic Receives 2nd Donation from Curtain Brothers
  • other stories….
Cardinal encourages CCHS staff to get vaccine
His Eminence Cardinal Sir John Ribat and President of the CBCPNGSI & Archbishop Anton Bal during a Media Conference at the CBC Center

The 62nd Catholic Bishops Annual General Meeting was held in Port Moresby recently.
In attendance, Bishops not only discussed their primary task of evangelization but also addressed key issues that are affecting Catholic faithful’s in the country. Bishops from the Solomon Islands were not able to join the weeklong meeting due to the COVID-19 restrictions. The AGM took place at the Catholic Bishop Conference on the 22nd to the 29th of June.

One of the key issues addressed is the COVID-19 situation in the country. President of CBCPNGSI Archbishop Anton Bal stated during a media conference at the end of the AGM that apart from their usual planning for the life of the church, they understand that their Catholic people and many other people of good will expect guidance from them on how to respond to challenges of these days in light of the gospel.

The Church being aware of different views on the pandemic, continues to maintain the advice from health experts that COVID-19 is real, dangerous, and deadly. Urging people to wear mask in crowded places as an obvious form of respect and care for the health of others.
“The Catholic Church maintains that there is no necessary conflict between faith and science. We therefore accept the findings of science that vaccines, specifically COVID-19 vaccines, genuinely protect against contracting COVID-19, spreading, becoming seriously ill, and dying from COVID-19. We encourage everyone to be vaccinated. We are well aware that the Astra Zeneca vaccine, as with most COVID-19 vaccines, have drawn on cells from aborted fetus. This is very unfortunate and we hope that vaccines without this complication can be developed. In the meantime, since there is no other choice, the common good requires that everyone seriously consider being vaccinated.”

His Eminence Cardinal Sir John Ribat, Archbishop of Port Moresby says that with so many misinformation , people are confused and scared. “I am fully vaccinated and so are the other bishops, priests and many people. In PNG we see that people are already dying from the disease. Many people have worked hard to create these vaccines with God’s wisdom and blessing and it is fairly to help us all save lives.”

“So to our health workers, I would like to encourage you to lead the way. What are we afraid of? We should see this as an act of charity from God to save lives. The danger is with us, let us take the vaccine to safe guard our lives as we face the threat with confidence and know that God is with us through this. Let us work hard to save lives and not be afraid.”

SECRETARIES MESSAGE

I would like to welcome everyone to our 3rd edition of the CCHS Pulse for 2021 as we explore stories that highlight our achievements and challenges across the country. With COVID-19 challenges, the Catholic Church Health Services have done outstanding work in maintaining normal operations under the guidelines of the COVID-19 Preventive measures within our facilities. I applaud all staff that has contributed exceptionally, making sure our people receive the healing they seek, physically, spiritually, or emotional.

CCHS has been blessed to have received donations in kind in this quarter. I would like to thank the Rotarians for the donation of clinical equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) that we received in good faith. I also take this time to acknowledge respective business houses that have supported our health facilities with cleaning equipment and materials for pandemic measures. Your contributions have helped our facilities continue providing health care services to our people.

As we reflect on some of our key achievements in the 3rd quarter, I am pleased to mention that presentation of the CCHS Report was acknowledged by our bishops during the 62nd Catholic Bishops Annual General Meeting in July. Furthermore, our 1st Board Meeting was held at the National Office after much delay due to the pandemic measures.

I would like to acknowledge team at National Office for their tremendous effort in collating the 2022 Budget and submitting it to Department of Treasury in August 2021.

I am proud to say we successfully completed capacity building activities through trainings and workshops facilitated by the national office. Three significant workshops were Master Data Monitoring and Evaluation Training, HIV Prescribers Refresher Training and Gender Transformative Approach Training.

Moving forward, we have significant activities planned for the 4th quarter. A pilot Leadership Training for the management and Health Managers in October by Advancing Papua New Guinea Woman Leadership Network Inc. The training will later be rolled down the dioceses. We also have the HIV Prescribers training in Mt Hagen and supervisory visit to Alotau and Madang.

I want to take this time to congratulate the two new Bishops, His Excellence Bishop Justin Ain Soongie of the Diocese of Enga, His Excellence Bishop Joseph Durero of the Diocese of Daru- Kiunga and Bishop Elect for Aitape Diocese, Father Siby Mathew Peedikayil. May the almighty God give you all the strength and joy you need for this very important ministry in the Church. I pray the we all will work together to encourage and support each other’s vocation with God’s people.

Let us be humbled that our work is the continuation of the Healing Ministry of Jesus Christ, to serve all people of our nation regardless of creed, color, and social status. Aside from the accomplishments, we pay our respects to our staff and families that have left us, may they rest peacefully in the grace of God. We pray for their souls to find eternal peace and for each and every one of us still alive, good health and wellbeing.

May God Bless you all.

Sr Jadwiga Faliszek
CCHS National Secretary

SHRIP UPDATE

Sexual and Reproductive Health Integration Project (SRHIP) is progressing with the implementation of activities in the eleven provinces. Despite Covid-19 restrictions there were key achievements and some challenges that were identified in the third quarter.

With continuous support from our International project partners ASHM and Burnet we were able to implement activities planned out for the year. Our in-country partners such as PNG Sexual Health Society Director Dr John Millan was instrumental with his support to the technical team within the CCHS National office and providing clinical consultations with the clinics in Port Moresby and refresher trainings in the provinces.

The highlights for the third quarter are the complete maintenance of the New St Joseph VCCT building, and the Youth and Adolescent Health (YAH) Assessment in St Paul’s Urban clinic (NCD). The Covid-19 support for messaging is on-going with different Sexual Reproductive Health topics, a new Covid-19 Live Vax talks with SRHIPPNG Covid-19 Support WhatsApp Group has been established, also Identifying the Covid-19 Champions and Printing of the Covid-19 IEC materials. All these was made possible with team effort from all partners under SHRIP!

There were also a number of Virtual trainings conducted to strengthen capacity building in the areas of Data Monitoring for M & E officers within the 19 Diocese, ART Prescribers training to most of the CCHS ART clinics and a Gender Training that seeks to sensitize our clinician around various gender approach and interactions.

There were also challenges with the Igat Hope Management team which CCHS has done corrective measures and are supporting the internal management and payroll system. Community engagement effort with the work of the Peers in the clinics are gaining recognition with the contact tracing and counselling techniques used to support patients in care.

On-going efforts have also been carried out in the eleven provinces with the DHSIOs, HMs and clinical teams continuing SRHIP activities in the diocese for the full integration of the 13 VCCT clinics. These activities are complimentary to the major Health services in the provinces. The Sexual and Reproductive Health services are paving way for Health systems strengthening within the diocese which also resulted in the negotiation of Service Level Agreement with five Provincial Health Authorities (PHA). SRHIP will continue to support capacity building at clinical and administrative levels. Two new clinical Prescribers training will be held in October and November of this year which will follow on from a special pilot of Leadership training to be held sometime in October. The project now has two to three months remaining for activities to be completed. Dioceses that are implementing this project will be contacted accordingly by the National Office for next steps.

CCHS Wewak Staff discussing the challenges and advantages of the Sepik Centre of Hope and Wirui Urban Clinic being integrated under SRHIP

Head Office News

M&E Master Training a success

Participants of the Data Quality Master Training are keen to utilize and share what they learned during the three days at Emmaus Conference Centre, Don Bosco Technical School in Port Moresby.

Monitoring and Evaluations officer for Mt Hagen CCHS, Sharon Geru said that she’s determined to go back and pass on what she learned to all her colleagues. “I would like to not only hold an Inservice with our Diocesan Health Manager and the Officer’s in Charge of our 15 health facilities but also include all the other staff.”

She said the training gave her a more in depth understanding of her role and the importance of what she does in the diocese as an M&E officer.

The training equipped the participants with knowledge and skills to support their dioceses and facilities in the management, reporting and use of quality health and HIV data.

This was the second DQM training hosted this year by the CCHS M&E team with the assistance of ASHM’s International Program Advisor, Nikki Teggelove. The participants are CCHS M&E officers form the Highlands, Momase, and one from Southern Region. CCHS M&E officers for the Niugini Islands and Southern Regions have already attended the same training in Kokopo in July.

The training was officially opened on the 3rd of August by the CCHS National Secretary, Sr Jadwiga Faliszek and Projects Director Graham Apian. Sr Jadwiga encouraged the participants to be more open to new learnings during the training as well as from each other’s successes and challenges. “I want you all to learn as much and when you go back, hold an Inservice and pass on what you learned here,” Sr Jadwiga said.

CCHS Projects Director, Graham Apian who was at the closing of the training, presented the 11 participants with certificates for completing the master training.

Projects Director Graham Apian presenting a completion of training certificate to M&E officer for Alotau Diocese, Doreen Dage.
CCHS signs Contract with APNG WLN
(From Left) CCHS Project Director Graham Apian witnessing the contract signing by CCHS National Secretary Sr Jadwiga Faliszek while Elisabeth Omeri is being witnessed by Cathy Alex Project Manager of APNG:WLN.

The National Catholic Church Health Services recently signed an agreement with the Advancing PNG Woman Leaders Network Inc on the 27th of August in Port Moresby. APNGLWN will be collaborating with CCHS in areas of capacity building for Health Managers.

National Secretary Sr Jadwiga Faliszek said this is a very important area as it is a lifelong skill that our health managers will need to empower them in their work. One of the main challenges that the training will address is the lack of proper communication and feedback mechanisms.

Through the contract signing, CCHS intends to equip its health managers and middle management with new knowledge that will build a skillful workforce that is accommodating to growth, accountability, and responsibility, to benefactors and funders.

APNG: WLN is a company that provides tailored leadership and management trainings that are specifically designed with the help of their international counterpart the WomanLeadInstitue’s Curriculum. APNG: WLN Project Manager Cathy Alex thanked CCHS for giving them the opportunity to run the trainings. “We’ve got 4 trainers in the country that’s been trained to deliver that curriculum, but it will be more tailored to the needs of CCHS.” Cathy said.

A pilot workshop is scheduled to take place on the 11th to the 14th of October, before more trainings will be rolled down to the CCHS Officers in Charge throughout the nation.

Revised template helps dioceses
Finance Officer Wilfred Kakau and Health Integration officer for CCHS Madang Aileen Watakapura during a discussion

A fundamental component of Project Management is ensuring transparency through accurate acquitting of public funds.

Project Finance Officer Wilfred Kakau form the National Catholic Church Health Services said that to achieve this, comprehensive and manageable financial tools must be tailored to articulate all aspects of the perceived financial reporting structure.

The formerly used Cash Book, Activity Implementation Plans (AIP) and Plan Activity & Plan Budget (PAPB) reporting templates although enabled Health Managers to take stock of their activities they lacked direction in terms of substantiating actions and providing measurable financial outcomes in each deliverable.

“There were impeding setbacks faced with having only one bank account comprising of several grants. As a result, Dioceses faced perpetual difficulties in determining ending balances at months’ end for each grant.” Kakau said.

The experience paved way to the recent inception of three (3) interactive and all-inclusive financial templates for the Sexual Reproductive Health Integration Project.

The templates were each simply designed to improve the capacity of DHSIOs and Dio-cese Health Managers in the management and coordination of their project funds in reaching more targeted areas.

Many have warmly embraced the simplicity of the documents and expressed their gratitude as the templates have vastly enhanced their professional confidence and team morale in this space.
“It’s very helpful, we now understood well how to do our budget and work towards achieving our AIPs and also keeping track of our remaining balances.” DHM for Vanimo CCHS said.

Kakau explained that to achieve value for money (VfM) in all their grants, a uniformed financial structure aligns all expenditures in conjunctions to their donor’s budget line. Which allows the National Office to effectively and efficiently mature their risk-and-control frameworks to make them more robust and sustainable over time.

Diocese News

Families To Share Parenthood Responsibilities
Nelson Joseph and partner Nashaly Kolove with their baby at the St Therese Clinic.

Every Tuesday at the St Therese Urban Clinic is Well Baby Clinic days. Mothers, fathers, and their babies line up outside the clinic waiting to be let into the clinic – eager for antenatal care, post-natal support, and immunisation for their children.
Among them was a young couple Nelson Joseph and partner Nashaly Kolove, first time parents to one-year-old Lenny. They have been regular faces at the clinic since Nashaly’s pregnancy.
It was a fitting scene for the World Breast Feeding Week which in 2021 was themed “Protect breastfeeding: A shared
responsibility”.
Breastfeeding contributes to babies’ survival, health, and wellbeing and with the added pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, mothers need more support from partners, family, friends, and health workers.
St Therese clinic nurse Rebecca Lama encourages mothers to bring their partners to the clinic if their child is sick or is due for immunisation.
“It’s rewarding for me to see all the mothers that have come through my doors for antenatal clinic now bringing their husbands with them to the clinic,” she said.
Rebecca said that breastfeeding mothers also need to recover from childbirth and need support from the family to be healthy and give the baby the opportunity for a long and healthy life.
At clinic, nurses walk mothers through pregnancy, birthing, and life with a baby. Where possible, they encourage breastfeeding for at least the first six months of a child’s life to promote healthy growth and mental development.
In addition to antenatal care and routine childhood immunisation, the clinic also tests pregnant mothers for tuberculosis, HIV, and other diseases to ensure their babies can get off to a good start to life.

New Equipment's to help HIV Services
Happy staff with their new computer set at the St Therese Clinic in Hohola

Staff of the two Catholic Church Health Facilities in Port Moresby are happy recipients of new equipment’s bought under the FHI 360 HIV Programs. New computers sets, phones with sim cards and filing cabinets were bought by the Diocesan Health Manager to help her staff at the two facilities continue their work in HIV.
DHM Sr Geraldine Arua said phones are for the 4 trackers who contact LTFU (lost to follow up) clients and patients to return to care and services. She added that along with these items were two filing cabinets are for filing of clients and patients documents.
Monitoring and Evaluations Officer for CCHS Pom, Jessica Kasawen said FHI 360 has been supporting them with the roll out of the index testing and tracing to break the chain of transmission.
The CCHS clinics were St Therese in Hohola and St Paul in Gerehu. These clinics have been working tirelessly with the Expert Patient Counselors to trace their active ART patients’ close associates.
ART Prescriber Christine Amdi explained that since the integration of HIV standalone clinic St Joseph Freinademetz with St Therese and St Paul Day Clinics in 2017, they have since been using the same computers.
“The computers have been very slow and needed an upgrade, but now we are very thankful to the FHI 360 HIV Program as through their support we were able to get new equipment’s. “she added.
Under the USAID HIV Support in PNG, FHI 360 has been providing technical assistance to the National Department of Health and it’s implementing partners included CCHS, Anglicare PNG, Hope Worldwide, Living Light Health Services and the Salvation Army.

Lae CCHS staff completes prescribers training
Participants of the HIV Prescribers training and the facilitators at the Pastoral Centre , 8 mile, Lae

Eighteen health workers from the Diocese of Lae Catholic Church Health Services will be given certificates as HIV Prescribers after completing their clinical attachment practical with the Centre of Mercy Clinic in Lae.
The participants were made up of a medical doctor, five nursing officers, eight community health worker and four Community Health Worker Volunteers attached to the four CCHS facilities in Lae. The HIV Prescribers training itself took place on the 15th-18th June at the Pastoral Center in Lae.
It was organized by the Diocese and supported under Sexual Reproductive Health Integration Project. Director for PNG Sexual Health Society Dr John Milan and Master Mentor Mary Norowen facilitated the training as a follow up of the Basic STI/HIV Refresher Training in December 2020.
Purpose of the training was to train the health workers to be competent and confident HIV Prescribers.
Norowen said 5 out of the 18 participants trained have completed their two weeks of practical. It included HIV Counseling & Testing (Pre-Counseling & Post Counseling) where she assessed them on how to prick, collect blood and apply buffer. After completing that she assessed them on their Adherence Counseling after a patient is found positive and the documentation and Registration to ART.
She said it’s important to have prescribers in all CCHS facilities because HIV is spreading and there are people living with HIV everywhere.
“People will be traveling and moving from one place to another, and I believe all CCHS facilities should have HIV prescribers there with ART drugs. We cannot ignore or neglect them; they must be on consistent treatment so that the virus will be suppressed in their system.
Lae Health Integration Officer Samantha Tirang said it was a privilege and step forward for Lae CCHS health workers.
“Thanks to SRHIP, we were able to invest in capacity building of our staff as well as create a working environment that is competitive yet competent.” Tirang said.
“When we have the skills and know what to do, it reflects in our work performance. Patient care and satisfaction improves; hence we will be able to share and reduce our workloads.”
Despite COVID-19 restrictions, preventive measures were taken during the training to create a safe and successful training.

Diocese News

ASRH Workshop a Success
Arawa Nursing students during a group presentation at the Workshop

CCHS Bougainville conducted a successful five days of Adolescent Sexual Reproductive Health workshop with 3rd year students at the Arawa Nursing College from the 5th -9th of July 2021.
The focus of the workshop is to improve the living standards of young people to live a healthy reproductive life with respect, trust, and discipline.
Bougainville Diocesan Health Manager Michaeline Pau said that as Clinical Service Providers, they should not judge but advocate for the benefits of informed decisions making as they educate the adolescents, providing a holistic friendly health service.
“The expected outcome has proved the workshop was a success and the participants have now increased their level of knowledge and capacity of understand.” Pau said.
The students took part in a pre-workshop and after workshop test to evaluate their understanding and knowledge of ASRH. Before the workshop the pretest result was 59% and the post test result was 88%. During day four of the workshop, the students went through the Youth and Adolescent friendly health services putting more focus on Nursing standards, Moral Ethics, and Improved Patient Management Care.
Present at the closing ceremony was Chief Executive Officer of Rural Health Service for Central Bougainville, Dr Cyril Imako, when all the participants received their certificates after the workshop.

Clinic Receives 2nd Donation of Sanitizers

St. Paul Urban Clinic received another generous donation from the Curtain Bros PNG on the 11th of August 2021 in Port Moresby. Officer in Charge of the clinic, Sr. Gracey, was humbled and thankful for the donation in kind made by the company with ten boxes of Antibacterial hand sanitizers.
Curtain Bros Group is a building and civil construction company with operations based throughout PNG. The company had made their first donation to the clinic earlier this year.
CCHS Port Moresby Health Integration Officer William Vagi thanked the Crane Manager of Curtain Bros PNG Neville McNamara for the donation, saying it will go towards helping the staff to continue enforcing the COVID-19 preventive measures within the clinic.
“We will utilize the hand sanitizers with our patients and staff as we enter and exit the clinic every day,” Vagi said.
St. Paul Clinic is a day clinic serving a catchment population of more than 25 000 people. The clinic integrated its primary health care with HIV services in 2018 to provide HIV Clinic. ST Paul currently has a total of 220 active HIV client that visits the clinic for the ART collect and counseling.
The National CCHS office is grateful for the ongoing support of local business houses that are making donations to the CCHS facilities across the country.

Curtain Bros Representatives with the OIC Sr Gracey Panakal and Nursing Officer Julie Bamban
Utai opens new health Facility and staff house

The Catholic Church Health Services of Vanimo Diocese celebrated the opening of a renovated service building and a new staff house at Utai on the 7th of August 2021.
The officer in Charge of Utai Health Sub-Centre took the initiative to seek help when he realized that Utai Health Subcenter was becoming hazardous for his patients and his home was crumbling around him.
Patrick Esis is from Utai Village. He started working at the HSC in 2015 as a Community Health Worker then was appointed as the OIC by the Health Secretary in 2017.
“I have been doing my work, helping the people, but my living condition was getting worse and worse every day. My home was crumbling around me, I had issues with lighting and water supply, and I also saw that we were also not providing quality service to our people.”
Present at the ceremony was the Health Secretary for Vanimo Diocese Amanda Niweke, Integration Officer Rachael Markus, Fr Joseph Runai of Wasengla representing the Bishop for Vanimo Diocese, local parish priest, OIC for all the Vanimo CCHS facilities Manager for Amanab Block 5&6 and the local people.
Esis is one of the landowners in the project areas that Amanab Forest Limited (AFL) is logging the forests. Instead of getting all royalty payments, part of it was going into a trust account called the Project Development Benefits Trust Funds. The trust fund is purposely for funding infrastructure and community development projects within the project area.
Esis wrote a proposal to the AFL to seek funding under the Health and Support Levi and was immediately approved. He hired a contractor who started work in June and completed the renovation with the new house in August.
Utai HSC has a catchment population of 5000 plus, with 4 Health Workers serving 13 clinic sites. Of the 13 sites, five are mobile, and seven are outreach overnight sites. Esis explained that from the 7, 4 have road links to them while three are hard to reach and require travel by foot.
The OIC also built a cough triage out of bush material before the new infrastructure development for his people.
The facility is now operating fully after closing some services like delivery, MCH, and antenatal care during the month of June.

Utai Community at the Opening

COVID-19 CORNER

CCHS Supports the uptake of COVID-19 Vaccine

The Catholic Church Health Services being a commission under the Catholic Bishop Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands support the uptake of vaccines as a tool to stop or prevent the spreading of the Sars-Cov-2.
A survey was carried out in July by the National CCHS office states that more than 30% of its Health Care workers in the country has already been vaccinated.
Vaccine hesitancy among the staff is very high though all the provinces reported that they have had COVID-19 sensitization workshops while some received pre-vaccination workshops.
Vaccine hesitancy is real, globally and in PNG. People have understandable concerns about taking the COVID-19 vaccine for many reasons – due to the speed of vaccine development, after hearing rumors about vaccine effects on the body or just because they would prefer to wait and see others take it first. And yet, vaccines remain the key pathway out of the COVID-19 pandemic. As health workers, we all have a role to play in getting vaccinated and promoting COVID-19 safety measures including uptake of the vaccine within the community. This is a tricky time with so much information and misinformation circulating on COVID-19 vaccines.
We have a SRHIP COVID-19 WhatsApp Group that we invite CCHS Health Workers
join a panel of local and international SRHIP facilitators ready to answer your questions or concerns in the chat. We look forward to some great discussion on COVID-19 vaccination and can’t wait for your inputs and insights then!

(Left) Sassoya Health Subcenter Officer in Charge Miriam Niasingun and her staff after receiving their AstraZeneca Vaccine
What is COVID-19???

Why are we so focused on COVID-19? Isn’t it just like the flu? These are common questions during the pandemic, especially among groups who believe COVID-19 does not exist or are anti-vaccination. So, let’s dive deeper …
The flu (caused by influenza viruses) and COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus) are both contagious respiratory illnesses. And the symptoms of both are somewhat similar (cough, fever, lethargy, sore joints and muscles). However, SARS-CoV-2 is much more contagious and can cause more serious illness than influenza. Influenza has a reproductive number (R0 value) of 1-2 meaning each infected person passes it on to 1-2 more people. The R0 for COVID-19 delta is estimated at 5-8!

Most importantly, SARS-CoV-2 was only identified in 2019. As a new virus, the global population has therefore been susceptible to infection and there are extremely limited treatment options for severe COVID-19. WHO estimates ~300,000 people die from influenza each year. In comparison, there have been 4,463,827 (4.46 million) COVID-19 deaths reported since the start of the pandemic – with mortality believed to be well under-reported! And this is despite intense lockdowns and restrictions in many countries around the world!
Influenza creates seasonal burden on health systems, but the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has created stress on health infrastructure, economies, people and health workers like we have never seen before. Never play down symptoms as ‘the flu’. If you experience cough, fever, headache, shortness of breath, aches and pains, extreme tiredness, loss of smell or taste, nausea or vomiting, or chest pain then go get tested for COVID-19!
And remember to protect yourselves, your loved ones and community by adhering to your personal controls (social distancing, mask wearing, respiratory etiquette, meeting in ventilated spaces and handwashing). Prevention is always best!

Coping with Work Stress During Covid-19
Staff at the St Therese Clinic in Hohola, Port Moresby after a long day of seeing patients

The COVID-19 pandemic has created high levels of stress among health workers around the world and in PNG. If we do not take care of ourselves, stress can lead to burnout. It is important for health workers to recognize the signs of stress and look after themselves to prevent burnout during this challenging time.
Signs of stress and burnout include:
• A loss of capacity or interest in bearing the suffering of our patients
• Physical symptoms like loss of appetite, nausea, stomach pain, and diarrhea. Headache and chest pain may also present.
• Sleep disturbances or the need to be busy all the time
• Feeling tired, drained most of the time and feeling sick a lot
• Mood swings and loss of motivation to come to work.
How to reduce stress:
• Keep yourself well informed. There is a lot of misinformation on social media. Get your information from reputable sources
• Stop listening to the news all the time!
• Start the day with a relaxing routine – try deep breathing exercises
• Eat regular, well-balanced meals
• Exercise regularly. A short 20 min walk will reduce your stress level considerably
• Do something relaxing and pleasurable every day
• Socialize in a COVID-19 safe way with family and like-minded friends. Do not keep talking about the pandemic!
• Set boundaries and take a break from technology
• Avoid cigarettes, alcohol, and stress-producing environments
• Get a good night’s sleep
• If you are not coping, ask for help.

Officer in charge of Dagua Health subcentre during a mother & child clinic

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The Holy Father donates PPE’s to CCHS

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Father Jacek Pawel Pinocy Secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea, Sr Jadwiga Faliszek National Secretary for CCHS
Sr Jadwiga Faliszek, National Secretary for CCHS, thanking Fr Jacek Pawel Pinocy Secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea for the gifts as Bishop Francis Meli and NCCHS staff look on
Samples of the donation received and will be distributed to 19 dioceses across the country

Port Moresby: 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 gifts took place at the National office of CCHS in Port Moresby by Father Jacek Pawel Pinocy Secretary of the Apostolic Nuncio of Papua New Guinea, in Port Moresby.

Through his communications with the Holy See in Rome, these donation 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, CCHS National Secretary Sr Jadwiga Faliszek 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 to conveying 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.

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.

The first donation of PPE’s form the Pope was received last year in November, in which the items were distributed to all the Dioceses.

—End—

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First Quarter Newsletter – 2021

Quarterly Newsletter  Jan– March 2021

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Edition 1: Issue 7

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
  • SRHIP Project Update
  • YAHA ready for needs assessment rollout.
  • DHSIO workshop a success
  • 17 Diocese had pay centralised
  • 4th Quarter report submitted to NDoH
  • Raihu Hospital on Lockdown
  • Banz 2 Urban Clinic Opens Extension
  • Staff Received COVID testing training
    Nutrition Program sees results
  • Goroka and Lae celebrates IWD
  • Clinic celebrates WDoS
  • Manus signs SLA with PHA
  • National Office Perspective on COVID-19
  • Diocese Update
Operations Must Continue
Diocese Health Service Integration Officer Sr Philomene (red shirt) being transported on tractor to Iowara Health Sub-Center for an outreach program.

Kiunga: Catholic Church Health Services in Daru-Kiunga Diocese is taking the operation budget cut as a positive challenge to wisely priorities their programs and activities for this year.
“This has posed a big challenge for us on how well we will have to manage, priorities and implement our planned activities with the limited funds allocated,” Diocese Health Manager Eileen Liborius said.
In a circular to all the facilities, Liborius informed her staff to minimize expenses and spend according to Key Result Areas based on the outcome of the National Health Information System data submitted.
The diocese is one of the most geographically challenged diocese, when it comes to service delivery. It has 22 health facilities currently in operation with a majority of them in remote rural areas.
“Our facilities in the rural areas will be affected especially with logistics.” Liborius said.
“It’s very expensive in terms of fuel and airfares to transport staff, food supplies and medical supplies and also in doing patient referrals, conducting MCH clinics and outreaches.”
However, Liborius said she will be looking at opportunities or gaps on availability of transportation from the Government, NGOs, Western Provincial Health Authority and other funding sources to do integrated patrols/outreaches.
She has also informed her staff to as much as possible integrate COVID-19 awareness with other operation programs during Antennal Clinics, family planning, outpatient, Maternal Child Health, Outreaches, so on.
Catholic Health Commission Secretary Sr Faliszek Jadwiga in a statement to the CCHS Health Managers, said in spite of the reduction in the budget cut, they are grateful to the NDoH and all their donors for the ongoing support.
The Secretary said she hopes the budget cut will not discourage everyone but strengthen them to prioritize their activities and use the recourses to deliver essential services to the people who deserve their attention.

2021: Year of Health and Care Workers

This year is designated as the International Year of Health & Care Workers in appreciation and gratitude for their unwavering dedication in their fight against COVID-19. Your support and action to ensure that our health and care workforce are supported, protected, motivated, and equipped to deliver safe health care at all times is essential.

SECRETARIES MESSAGE

As we begin the holy week, let us remind ourselves that the spirit of
Easter is all about Hope, Joy, Peace and Love.
I am pleased to release the first edition of the Pulse for 2021. In this
edition, we journey through the many good work that has been done at
the diocese level despite the COVID 19 pandemic. We pray for
everyone who is affected by this global crisis and for the lives that have
been lost. The COVID19 virus has now spread to almost all provinces
and the reported death toll is increasing. I want to encourage everyone
to adhere to the control measures put in place and to abide by the new
normal or Niupla Pasin. There has been a lot of myth and uncertainty
around the COVID19 vaccine. We are working closely with the
Catholic Bishops Conference to release a statement on this. We know
that Pope Francis supports the global vaccination effort, but emphasises
on morality and individual freedom of choice.
The year 2021 brought blessings and a bit of sadness. As a nation we
mourn the passing of Great Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare, first
Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea and someone who has had a
massive influence on the political landscape of the country. His passing
united the nation as we saw from the two weeks Haus krai in Port
Moresby and other parts of the country.
We also lost a staunch supporter of the Catholic Church Health
Services, Late Dr Paison Dakulala. Dr Dakulala served as a member of
the CCHS National Board for a number of years and at the time of his
passing he was Deputy State of Emergency Control and Deputy
Secretary for National Department of Health. We pray for both souls to
find eternal rest.
Our team at the national office is growing as we see the need to further
strengthen our coordination with the dioceses. We welcome a new
M&E Manager, Gaius Sabumei and two new M&E Officers, Francis
Tulem and Sally Laka. They are joined by Harriet Wasina who will be
working closely with the training institutions and Nancy Aloitch who
will be working on the Kiunga Nutrition project.
We are now managing 16 diocesan payrolls at the National Office. Let
me clarify that this is not Alesco payroll but an approach that is
preparing us for it. A number of circulars have been sent in relation to
the payroll amalgamation and I encourage the dioceses to contact the
National Office if you have questions.
The COVID19 restrictions has now delayed most of the activities we
initial plan to conduct before June of this year. This included a number
of clinical trainings and a M&E follow-up training. We also plan to
conduct supervisory visits to a number of diocese but this is now
delayed. I will appeal to the dioceses to keep in constant contact with
the National Office as this is the only way we can all help each other.
We also plan to conduct a leadership training for health managers,
however this will also be delayed until further notice. The National
Office will keep you all updated on progress of activities.
To conclude, I want to wish you all Happy Easter celebrations. During
this very difficult time, let us all reflect on the death of Jesus Christ and
find strength and comfort. Let us prioritize our health and that of our
families and neighbours. I wish all your families receive immeasurable
blessings, love, peace and wealth during this Easter. May you all
continue to help the needy ones, especially those who are sick and keep
the attitude of gratitude always!

Sr Jadwiga Faliszek
CCHS National Secretary

SHRIP UPDATE

The integration of HIV standalone facilities into broader health setting is a process under taken through the Sexual Reproductive Health Integration project since 2017.
Phase 2 of the SRHI project began in July 2020 and focuses on ensure that we build stronger systems, better health services, stronger partnerships and stronger community engagements.
At the start of 2021, a supervisory visit was conduct to the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. The purpose of the visit was to follow– up on the progress of integration for the three
HIV standalone facilities; Mary Mother of Hope in Buke, Our Lady of Mercy in Arawa and St Vincent De Paul in Buin. All three facilities will continue to operate but with slight adjustments to the services and introduction of some new programs.
There were few other supervisory visits planned out, however due to the COVID19 restrictions on travel, these visits have been deferred to a later date.
Prior to the supervisory visit, a reflection workshop was held
with Health Managers and Diocesan Integration Officers
from 11 dioceses. The weeklong workshop provided the
opportunity for the National Office and engage directly with
the Health Managers and DHSIOs on operational and
program level issues. The workshop was timely and helpful,
especially when implementation of key activities was delayed
at the provincial level.
Most activities planned under SRHIP for the first 6 months of
2021 have been deferred. The National Office is exploring
options of coordinating and implementing some of the
activities. The use of the virtual platforms such as zoom and
Microsoft teams have been considered. Under SRHIP, the
National Office will be reaching out to dioceses to assess
existing capacity on ICT (Information Communication &
Technology) and areas that can be supported for virtual
connectivity.
In the first quarter of 2021, most of the eleven dioceses have
been provided with activity grants to support their operations.
The following activities have been implemented so far,
community outreach, support for HIV patient, inter-province
supervisory visits and meeting for clinic officers In-Charge.
During the COVID19 pandemic, support has been provided
towards community messages and the development of
awareness videos that are being disseminated to all the
provinces. Dr John Millan and the Australasian Society of
HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine have been
providing clinical advise on HIV in the context of COVID19.

Diocesan Health Service Integration Officer for Bougainville Rosemary Ravana (Left) and Diocesan Health Manager Michaeline Pau during their case study presentation at the DSHIO Review Workshop in February.

Head Office News

YAHA Ready for Need Assessment Rollout

NCD YAAC with Facilitators Melky David and Maureen Lesley after the Focus Group Discussion.

Port Moresby: Five Youth and Adolescent Advisory Committee for the National Capital District had their first initial meeting and Focus Group Discussion on 8th of March at the National Office.
Thirteen YAAC altogether were recruited in the five pilot dioceses, however due to travel risks and increase cases of COVID-19 they were not able to attend the meeting. Five were from NCD and two from each of the other dioceses, Bereina, Mendi, Goroka and Lae.
The committees are volunteers engaged to contribute in the development of a strategy that will be adapted into Catholic Health Clinics to meet the Sexual Reproductive Health (SRH) needs of young people in PNG.
Youth and Adolescent Health is an initiative designed under SRHIP II, to help young people access safe SRH services.
During the first FGD with the NCD YAAC, they were able to explore reproductive health priorities and needs, and also give their perspectives on SRH service needs of young people.
The first needs assessment study will be conducted in Bereina Diocese in Central Province, followed by NCD, Mendi, Goroka and then Lae.
The Needs Assessment Study will identify priority RHS needs of young people with implications for improving this service in PNG.
YAAC in each pilot dioceses will also have their induction meeting with the YAHA officer on what the initiative is and how their contribution is needed.

DHSIO Workshop a Success
Bougainville Catholic Health Manageress Michaeline Pau and DHSIO Rosemary Ravana actively participating during the workshop.

Port Moresby: A successful Diocesan Health Service Integration Officers Review Workshop was conducted from the 9th to 11th of February at the Catholic Bishop Conference centre in Port Moresby.
It was led by Health System Coordinator Silentia Tulem and the National Catholic Church Health Service office team. The participants were inclusive of the DHSIOs and their Health Managers in the 11 respective Provinces that are engaged in the Sexual & Reproductive Health Integration Project (SRHIP) for Phase 2.
The workshop brought everyone together as they share their learnings from experiences since the inception of SRHIP 2 in order to better the current health system and services.
A few dioceses presented their Activity Implementation Plan for the year, others received help from the facilitators and were able to send in the AIP after the workshop.
Integration of four remaining facilities was also discussed at length in order to be finalized.
Autonomous Region of Bougainville diocese shared an informative presentation on their facilities and the three standalone HIV Voluntary Counselling sites that were integrated in phase 2 of the project.

17 Diocese Had Pay Centralised

Port Moresby: National Catholic Church Health Services is working on centralizing the payment of its staff’s salaries before the end of the second quarter.
NCCHS Corporate Director Jeffrey Vagalia said 17 out of the 22 dioceses who have provided their biodatas, are being paid from the National Office while five are yet to submit their biodatas. Dioceses that have submitted their biodatas, were asked to resubmit their data as the office is currently doing a payroll audit.
“This is so that we can cross check against the staff who are currently employed and is on the payroll,”
Vagalia said.
“Within the next three months, we are hoping to centralize all the dioceses before we move on to the Alesco Payroll system.”
This will be a significant change for church health workers to be included in the government pay system.
Vagalia said priority is being given to the 4 CCHS four hospitals as they are big and is currently paid with all dioceses from the grants.
“They have to be put on Alesco immediately.”
The hospitals are Migendi Rural hospital in Kundiawa, Raihu Rural Hospital in Aitape, St Mary’s Vunapope District Hospital in East New Britain and Wataluma District in Milne Bay.

National Office Payroll officers working tirelessly to centralise CCHS pay system.
4th Quarter Report Submitted to NDoH

Port Moresby: National Catholic Church Health Services successfully submitted its fourth quarter report to the National Department of Health in January this year.
Projects Director Graham Apian said the major highlight of the report was the transition of Sexual Reproductive Health Integration Project (SRHIP) from phase one to phase two.
“The main achievement under SRHIP was the integration of five facilities that now we’ve been able to categorized under at least under one of the four integration models. The facilities are St Joseph VCCT in Goroka, Rebiamul VCCT/ART, Bishop Henry Aid-Post in Lae and three facilities in Bougainville, Mary Mother of Hope VCCT, Our Lady of Mercy and St Vincent De Paul.
Other major highlights of the quarter were the infrastructure extension of Banz Urban Clinic in Jiwaka, Bishop Henry Aid-post in Morobe and the ward maintenance of Tearouke Clinic in Bougainville. CCHS has received a number of financial supports from its partners, NDoH, DFAT, Global Fund and UNICEF in that quarter that helped boost the work on the ground.
Monitoring and Evaluation report for 2017 to 2019 were also printed and distributed to the 21 dioceses around the country.

Diocese News

Raihu Hospital on Lockdown
Medical wards were disinfected and are empty as the hospital is on lockdown

Aitape: Raihu Rural Hospital in Aitape, West Sepik, was on 2 weeks lockdown after an infant and eight clinical staff were tested positive for Corona Virus in late February.
“The first case was an infant, who has recovered and doing well,” Aitape Catholic Health Service Manager Sr Lorna Kawa said.
Through contact tracing, eight out of 49 staff were tested positive and were asked to go into isolation.
“They were all asymptomatic upon testing,” Sr Lorna said.
She added that the hospital is not in complete lockdown as the obstetric and medical wards are accept emergency referrals from other clinics.
Contact tracing will also be done to the families of the staff diagnosed.
The Raihu School of Nursing was also closed since it was connected to the hospital.
A team of health workers form the hospital has also been going around the town and public places doing awareness on the New Normal Health Measures and the Hospital’s current situation.

Staff Received COVID Testing Training
Valoka Health Centre staff being trained in the donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment.

Kimbe: Valoka Health Centre will be providing COVID-19 testing for its 20 044-catchment population after its staff received training in early February.
Nine healthcare workers from the Valoka Health Centre received the antigen detection rapid diagnostic test training.
The training was facilitated by a team from the World Health Organisation at the health centre’s laboratory building.
Four community health workers, four nursing officers and a lab technician will now be able to test patients for COVID-19.
Ag-RDT detects the virus that causes COVID-19 in respiratory samples using lateral flow immunoassay. It is easy to use and provides tests results in less than 30 minutes.
The participants were also given proper training on the donning and doffing of Personal Protective Equipment’s.

Banz 2 UC Opens Extension
His Excellency Archbishop Douglas Young with Fr Peter Ripa and Paul Zulu in front of the new extension.

Jiwaka: Banz 2 Day Clinic has been actively adhering to the new normal health measures since the facility opened its extension in December last year.
“Here in Banz we are doing triaging separately, no mask no entry, COVID-19 health education every morning and staff to clean up every afternoon.” CCHS Health Integration Officer Paul Zulu said.
Through the Sexual Reproductive Health Integration Project supported by the Australian government clinic extension can now accommodate HIV and ART services ,well women clinic and also adhere to the new normal measures.
Zulu said despite the facility being badly deteriorating, it was kept open to serve the 7000 plus catchment population in North Waghi who depended on the health clinic services.
His Excellency, Archbishop Douglas Young of the Mt Hagen Archdiocese blessed and officially opened the renovated and extension of the facility.
The Clinic was one of few remaining facilities established over 40 years ago by missionaries under the Mt Hagen Archdiocese.
The local population now have access to a new, improved and spacious facility that they can call their own.

Nutrition Program See Results
CCHS staff performing a Mid-Upper Arm Circumference Screen on a child.

Kiunga: The Infant Young Child Feeding and Nutrition program has brought about a much-needed aid to communities in Daru-Kiunga Diocese since its implementation in October 2020.
The program is funded by UNICEF and rolled out by Catholic Church Health Services and Evangelical Church of PNG in partnership with the National Department of Health.
It aims to address malnutrition in children between the ages of 6– 72 months old as an emergency response in the context of COVID-19. Since its implementation, more than 1200 children were either diagnosed for Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) or were at risk of SAM.
CCHS Project Director, Mr Graham Apian said the focus of this project is to supply Micronutrient Powders (MNP) and Vitamin A tablets to the children in the communities will continue. Mr Apian added that the implementation of these activities will be carried out by Health Care Workers (HCW) and Village Health Volunteers (VHV) who were trained and attached with the health facilities in the province. There have been ongoing community awareness on IYCF practices to identify and managing SAM.

Goroka and Lae celebrate IWD
Staff from the Centre of Mercy in Lae Diocese

Lae & Goroka: Catholic Church Health Services staff around the country joined in the celebration of International Woman’s Day by wearing purple ribbons to work on the 8th of March.
CCHS Lae celebrated women’s achievements in healthcare, regardless of race, tribe, culture or positions.
Each of the CCHS Lae employee received a purple ribbon and all the female staff received an IWD gift card to commemorate the day. Although they celebrate IWD every year, this year is special as all their male colleagues showed their support by wearing the purple ribbon and posing for pictures with placards of challenges.
While in Goroka, staff at St Joseph VCT celebrated the day with a light refreshment to acknowledge the tireless woman who care for People living with HIV and carry out awareness in the communities over the years.
CCHS joined in the global #ChooseToChallenge campaign to call out inequality, support woman’s rights, celebrate woman’s achievements and collectively assist women who access services and to be in a position of power to make informed decisions about their health.
Integration Officer for CCHS Lae, Samantha Tirang said woman in health are exposed to many risks everyday of their lives, yet their achievements go unnoticed.
“Being a healthcare worker, you achieve something everyday when you diagnose a patient, prescribe medicine and save a life which is the greatest achievement.
“In CCHS we learn to treat our patients with love, care and compassion and that is the greatest gift we can give to our patients.
She added that they are grateful that their male colleagues showed their support today as well as every day.

Clinic Celebrated WDoS

Alotau: Staff and patients of Sideia Health Sub-centre in Milne Bay, joined Catholic faithfuls around the world in a double celebration on the 11th of February.
The combined celebration was to commemorate the 29th World Day of the Sick and the liturgical memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Lourdes.
People of Sideia started the day off with a holy mass in the grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, where the health staff and their families led the liturgy at Sedeia Mission Centre
This was followed by a common meal shared among staff, patients and their guardians at the Health Centre.
After the mass, the Officer in Charge gave a heart-warming speech of gratitude to the staff and guardians and presented each patients with gifts.
Stated in the message from His Holiness Pope Francis, the celebration is an opportunity to devote special attention to the sick and those who provide them with assistance and care both in healthcare institutions and within families and communities.
“To Mary, Mother of Mercy and Health of the Infirm, I entrust the sick, healthcare workers and all those who generously assist our suffering brothers and sisters. From the Grotto of Lourdes and her many other shrines throughout the world, may she sustain our faith and hope, and help us care for one another with fraternal love. To each and all, I cordially impart my blessing.”

The OIC, staff , guardians and the patients closed the celebrations with a shared meal
Manus signs SLA with PHA

Holding the signed Agreement, Chairman MPHA Mr Siwer, His Excellency Archbishop Rochus Tatamai and Dean for Manus Fr Clement Taulam

Manus: Catholic Church Health Services of Manus has paved the way for other Niugini Islands in signing the Service level partnership agreement with Manus Provincial Health Authority on the 5th of March.
His Excellency, Archbishop Rochus Josef Tatamai said Manus as a deanery has paved the way for the Diocese of Kavieng.
“I want to see similar documentation and signing for the other dioceses of Bougainville, Kimbe, Kavieng and Rabaul Archdiocese.”
National Health Secretary for CCHS, Sr Faliszek Jadwiga was unable to attend the ceremony due to the increase in COVID-19 case in Port Moresby.
Other authorised signatories to the agreement present were Archbishop Rochus Tatamai and Chairman for Manus PHA. Robert Siwer.
The Dean of Manus Deanery, Fr. Clement Taulam in his opening remarks, acknowledged Manus CCHS Manager Michael Marau and CEO for Manus PHA for their commitment in the
Mr. Siwer said CCHS and PHA for Manus have been working as a team over the years and this event will strengthen them to serve the people better.
“Thankyou CCHS Manus for serving our rural villages and know this, PHA Manus will continue to assist you as we go into the future.”
The event was witnessed by catholic faithfuls, priests, interested public, staff of Manus CCHS and PHA at the St Michael Catholic Church in Lorengau.

COVID-19 CORNER

National Office Perspective on COVID-19
NCCHS Support Staff Jane Mero adhering to the workplace safety measures at the Workplace.

National CCHS office is adhering to the Measures that the National Office of the Controller has sent out.
The 12 measures have been circulated to all Health Managers during the month of March from the NCCHS Office.
Provincial Administrators as per measure number 4 is given the powers under the Pandemic Act to be responsible for the implementations of all the measures in each respective province.
CCHS Management urges diocese health offices to work closely with the Provincial Advisory Group set up within the provinces during this COVID-19 surge.
The Provincial Advisory Group comprises of chairperson (Provincial Administrator), Provincial Police Commander, Chief Executive Officer of the Provincial Health Authority (PHA) Chief Executive Officers of the District Development Authorities, Other person the Provincial Administrators appoints, Church Representatives, Business Council Representative and Nonvoting member opted by the taskforces.
CCHS National Secretary, Sister Jadwiga Faliszek has maintained that CCHS Health Diocese Office works with the PHA and establish COVID-19 Provincial Advisory Group (PAG) in the provinces for ease of coordination.
Meanwhile CCHS National Office is working around the clock to secure support to assist the clinics, this may take time and so it is important to work with the PAG in the provinces and ensure our services continues.
She encourages an open communication to the national office and Provincial Advisory Group during this time.

Diocese Update

The surge in the number of people being diagnosed or dying from COVID-19 in the country is both alarming and concerning.
Based on the information provided by Health Managers in the March, there has been a number of the Catholic Church Health Services staff diagnosed with COVID-19.
Aitape Diocese was the first to report eight of its frontline workers being diagnosed after coming in contact with their first case.
Other dioceses that reported positive cases were, Vanimo, Kimbe, Kundiawa, Goroka and Mt Hagen.
Four CCHS facilities have been chosen to do COVID-19 tests, they are Migendi District Hospital in Kundiawa, Lote Health Sub-centre in Vanimo, Valoka Health Centre in Kimbe and St Mary’s Vunapope District Hospital in Rabaul.
One of the biggest problem facilities face now is the shortage of Personal Protective Equipment.
With the increase in cases, all staff are advised to continue practicing the basic five;
• Wash hands frequently with soap
• Cough or sneeze into elbow
• Social distancing of 1.5 or 2 meters
• Avoid touching eyes nose and mouth.
• If your feeling sick, seek medical help.
Few of the health mangers have reported that their facilities are doing triaging and screen of their patients.
It important that all facilities should have a triage station at the facility entrance before allow patients to enter the waiting area or screen patients for COVID-19.
Triaging will help in identify COVID-19 suspects and establish further investigation, diagnose and provide proper referral for testing or management.

Mingende Rural Hospital Triage team Mr. Lucas Wenambo, Driver Michael Wau & DDNS Mr. Thomas Sipa in 2020
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Government Partners

  • National Department of Health
  • Provincial Health Authority

Development Partners

  • PNG Australia Transition to Health
  • Australasian Society for HIV, Viral Hepatitis and Sexual Health Medicine
  • Burnet Institute
  • UNICEF
  • Caritas Australia

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