Highlights of my Holiday

I am currently on leave. Three weeks that was, with a day remaining. Let me highlight what I have done during the first two weeks.
First seven (7) days, the kids and I flew down to Port Moresby to meet my family members and friends and especially introduce my second born toddler to his other relatives from three different provinces. Second week, we flew back to Wapenamanda, safe and sound where our home for two years welcomed us with quietness but more importantly expected Rodney’s arrival for his break .
And this week is my last week. So for my last week I decided to assist my husband, Rodney to do volunteer work at a Sub Health Centre run by the Four Square Mission in Wapenamanda District, Enga Province. Rodney also did volunteer work at the Immanuel Lutheran Rural Hospital, run by the Gutnius Lutheran Health Services. However on this break, Rodney was given a letter from The Immanuel Lutheran Hospital Management not to provide his service and not to carry out any other activities in the hospital. The main reason stated in the letter to my disbelief was because he did not honour his three-year contract. Eight months after his resignation and they still couldn’t get over it. But they have every right to do what they thought best for the institution. And the decision is highly respected. But not discouraged, rather took it and stepped on it and continued with other health Institution. Rod has two weeks off as his break in which he provides medical care to the patients at Kungumanda Sub-Health Centre.

 So Monday, I followed Rodney to one of the Sub-Health Centre in Tsak Valley in Wapenamanda District. The Kungumanda Four Square Sub-Health Centre is run by The Four Square mission operated since 2008. The mission has employed four experienced and dedicated Nursing Personals lead by the Officer in Charge Mr Jessie Tame. “With no Medical Doctor and Health Extension Officer, our human resource is stressed but we do what we can to do something to save a life and treat a life”, Mr Tame Confidently said. For those patients that need medical Doctors attention they are being referred.

The health centre conducts Family Planning Clinics, Immunization Clinics; perform Labour Deliveries, Pre and Post natal care, Medical care, surgical care, Diagnosing and treating patients presented with common medical problems and inpatient care. They also do wound dressings and suturing of bush knife wounds. There is a pediatric ward, Medical ward, surgical ward, a delivery room and a Minor theatre. According to the conversation with the staffs, they see about a 1000 patient per month. The health Centre serves the whole population of the mountainous Tsak Valley.

 The Health Centre has a generator yet to get connected, also has solar panel, to power the hospital building but again depending on the weather. However, the staffs sleep with lamps yet not an utter of complaints. These dedicated Nursing Personals are very brave and confident. I say this because, e.g.; they can do a labour delivery with a kerosene lamp….that’s what I mean. I asked about their Cold Chain for keeping Vaccines. They have this cooler donated by AUSAID and is generated by gas to maintain the right temperature for the vaccines.

Cooler for storing vaccines and monitoring the right temperature for the vaccines. The cooler is connected to the gas cylinder to provide the Cold Chain System for the Vaccines.

For sterilizing, they use this steam sterilizer over the two burner gas stove. They mainly sterilize instruments like forceps and dressing materials like gauze.

The Steam sterilizer on a two burner gas stove.

Rod and I saw about 21 patients. No major case presented. All were treated and sent home. According to the staffs, surprisingly today was not so busy. So Rod will be going back on Monday (tomorrow) for another round of clinic. As for me, it’s back to work full-time come 7th of August. I reckon I had a balanced three weeks.