The National Office of Catholic Church Health Services is constantly communicating and monitoring the situation on the ground while providing guidance and support at the headquarter in Port Moresby.
Since the new variant of COVID-19 was detected early this year, Papua New Guinea has experienced a surge in the number of cases over the months.
This has resulted in the National office to work around the clock to secure support and assist the health facilities in terms of immediate assistance in the procurement of Personal Protective Equipment’s and Information, Education and Communication materials.
CCHS has 256 health facilities, including 3 district hospitals, 2 rural hospitals and 5 Health Training Schools with over 1400 clinical and non-clinical staff employed.
All CCHS facilities are experiencing limited supply of PPE’s and require more of Provincial Level Assistance. Given our remoteness, we need to be better equipped and prepared to cater for our remote settings should the risks spread.
Our facilities will face a high compromising risk as the frontline to the rural population with limited resources such as no oxygen supply, simple oximeters that are battery operated, proper water supply and isolation rooms. This risk is for both the staff and the patients.
Other experiences during this time is the stigma and discrimination that our health workers are facing when they are tested positive.
CCHS is grateful for the ongoing support from the its donors, Caritas New Zealand and Australia Holy See, our dioceses and other supports that have come to us during the first wave and the current.
CCHS Management urges Diocesan Health Officers to work closely with their respective Provincial Advisory Group set up within the provinces during this COVID-19 surge. More cooperation is needed at the provincial level with the government, cooperative planning, distribution to church facilities etc.