NO Money for TB Program

Lead up 24th World TB Day, the Health Professionals and Public health Specialists are out in the communities conducting TB awareness programs. This is one of the national public health calendar programs across the nation. It has 

Mrs Maggie Patrick, HIV/STI nurse pictured at Gusap Health Center in Madang Province said we are out in the communities for one week conducting TB awareness. The nurses are showing their willingness to implement the important public health program. 

We're not confined to TB but also talking about other public issues such as HIV/AIDS.

She said the Provincial Health Authorities lack funding and the National Department of Health too has not funded the program.

Indeed it’s a sad state when the government has not funded to support the important public health program, she said.

She said public health program is dying in the province. The government must budget for public health programs because many patients seeking healthcare are with preventable diseases through awareness.

She also said HIV infection is on the rise and the government must not go in deep sleep when it comes to public issues. She further said every month there is a new HIV infection reported in her clinic.

TB Nurse Miriam Toakio pictured above said they have submitted a project proposal to the office of Using/Bundi Member but have yet to get a response.

However, without any funding, we have done what we could do to spread the public health messages to the public, especially in the rural communities where 80% of the population are living.

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She further said we do not need big funding but at least some money for refreshment's and when we are out in the communities.

What we have done is we use our own money to buy food and water. There are no Information, Communication, Education materials for distribution, she said.