BY SEPKOLIN WALNE
SEVEN provinces are not doing enough to promote healthy living in their rural communities, according to the National Department of Health.
The acting executive manager for Population Health and Health Communities, Dr Lutty Amos, raised this concern when highlighting the current situation of health promotion in PNG during a recent workshop in Port Moresby.
She told the National Health Promotion High-Level Advocacy Workshop that research was conducted in the seven provinces to determine the level of health promotion.
Dr. Amos said there was a big gap for training in health promotion and education, community engagement and program planning in the provinces.
“The challenges shows that there was limited provincial level coordination for health promotion and healthy activities despite partnership with churches and other stakeholders.
“The challenges that we observe in this small survey was insufficient funding and resources with 57% of provinces prioritising health promotions as moderate or low, there was workforce limitations and training gaps.
“The findings show that 57% of the provinces give health promotion a moderate to low priority and top priorities were given to TB, Malaria, STIs, Maternal Child Health and HIV/AIDS.”
Dr Amos added that the National Health Plan 2021-2030 outlined five key result areas to address the declining health indicators. These are health promotion, partnership, quality and affordable health care, public health and strengthening health system.
The theme of the workshop was “National Advocacy for Revitalising Healthy Island Approach to improve Health Promotion in Papua New Guinea”.