EXXONMOBIL PNG Limited (EMPNG), operator of the PNG LNG Project, recently partnered with the Papua New Guinea National Department of Health (NDoH) to support the government’s efforts to eliminate malaria in the country through improved malaria diagnostics capabilities.
EMPNG provided a funding grant of more than K570, 000 to support a Malaria Microscopist training for Malaria Microscopists and Clinicians from fourteen districts across 10 Provinces in the country.
The funding also covered the purchase of new digital malaria microscopes for participants to take back to their districts.
The 5-day intensive training held from 3 – 7 March was organized by the NDoH’s National Malaria Control Program, facilitated by the Central Public Health Laboratory’s WHO-certified trainers.
This was the first of several trainings planned for Malaria Microscopists from the districts.
The training aimed to promote quality health service delivery through accurate microscopy-based diagnostic services in support of malaria case management and elimination regimes.
ExxonMobil PNG Managing Director and Chairperson Dinesh Sivasamboo expressed gratitude for the collaboration with the NDoH in the fight against malaria.
“We are pleased to join this fight by providing advanced training to strengthen the technical capacity of District malaria microscopists across PNG. It is our hope that this training helps each of you to better serve our country, and to train others who work with you in your Provinces.”
Malaria remains one of the most serious public health issues and is a leading cause of illness and death in PNG.
The NDoH has been working to improve malaria diagnosis and treatment and high-quality patient care to achieve its ultimate target of malaria elimination by 2030.
“To further assist you all in your work across PNG, you will each receive new, high quality digital microscopes to take back with you to your Provinces to aid you in your work.
“Your efforts to better detect malaria in patient blood samples will lead health professionals to better detect – and treat – this disease. And in this way, you each play an important role in saving lives here in our country,” said Sivasamboo.
Executive Manager for Disease Control and Surveillance, at the NDOH, Dr Peniel Boas, thanked ExxonMobil PNG on behalf of the department during a certificate presentation ceremony on Friday 7 March at the Tuna Bay Resort.
“Partnerships like this are in line with our National Health Plan and this collaboration with ExxonMobil PNG is yet another example of how we can all work together. I hope this can continue with other health programs.”
Dr Boas said this training was timely as malaria cases have been rapidly increasing in the country and the department has been looking at new strategies to combat the disease.
“Previously our focus was on prevention using insecticide treated bed nets. With developments like this, we are now looking at combining intervention methods like the treated bed nets and improved diagnosis and treatment,” said Dr Boas.
This also marked the first time the NDOH has facilitated a malaria training for health workers selected from district health facilities, a development that was well received by all participants.
Acting Manager for the National Malaria Control Program Dr Jacob Kisomb said, “The majority of people in this country live in the rural setting in districts and diagnosis must happen at that level of service delivery.
The individuals here are each representing a district health facility, and when they go back this learning will have a ripple effect in their Districts. They will be going back and sharing their knowledge with other colleagues and importantly serving the people they live among.”
Salati Haura from Kikori Health Center in Gulf province said this was the first time she took part in a training organized by the NDOH. “We usually receive in-house trainings through the Catholic Health Services, but this was a first and I’m very privileged to be here. I will take back what I have learnt and share these skills with my colleagues.”
Upon learning that each participant would be taking one of the new microscopes back with them to their district health facilities – Albert Adila from Kwikila Rural Health facility was thrilled. “I am very grateful that my facility will be receiving a brand-new malaria microscope. Thank you very much.”
Austin Laravua from Lamakot Health Center in Kavieng, New Ireland, said, “I am very happy. With this new microscope I can now work better to detect the disease.”
