THE Kumul Petroleum Holdings Limited (KPHL) delivered Cardiac equipment worth K1.5 million to the Port Moresby General Hospital (POMGH) for the National Heart Center, on Thursday 10th of September 2021.
The ultrasound scan machine that was delivered is the latest on the world market and is the first ultrasound scan machine in the country that has artificial intelligence built into it, so that they can get images and scans directly into the patients’ heart.
Port Moresby General Hospital, Chief Executive Officer Dr. Paki Molumi thanked KPHL said this was a very big achievement in the health system of the country because cardiac patients do not have to travel to other countries to receive this treatment as they can now receive it in the country.
“Stroke is one of the leading cause of death and admissions at Port Moresby General Hospital, through this cardiac program we will now be able to reverse strokes as well,” Dr. Molumi said.
The hospital has also brought in one interventional cardiologist who’s among the top of the world, and has conducted procedures all the way to the brain to reverse stroke and will continue to do that, even all the way to the kidney to fix blockages that cause stroke.
The Cardiac Program in POMGH is not only concentrating on cardiac diseases but also into other organs as well, in doing so they can assist in treating all the lifestyle diseases affecting many Papua New Guineans today.
Roger Gango, 51, from Morobe Province is a cardiac patient who was transferred from Brown Memorial Hospital in Finschhafen, Morobe Province, to Angau Memorial Hospital and then to POMGH on the 27th of July this year and has been waiting for this treatment for almost three months.
Mr. Gango thanked the KPHL and POMGH for making available a facility that will save the lives of many people in the country.
He raised a concern saying, “People at the rural areas, do not know about this facilities, that’s the concern I have, so can we make this more accessible to them so that they know about it and can come for treatment. Also think about people like me in rural areas and make it more affordable for us, so that we can save more lives”.
Since the beginning of the cardiac program, “so far 80 angiogram have been run and about 15 stents put in the heart of 15 patients and more are in the queue. Those are procedures you would have otherwise gone to Australia or Singapore or someplace overseas at a huge cost,” KPHL Managing Director Wapu Sonk said.
Mr. Sonk added, that the funding of the K1.5 million cardiac equipment is part of the KPHL K50 million commitment that they have made in August of last year after signing a MOU. Programs have been underway and has progressed well in the phase of one year. Angau Memorial Hospital in Morobe Province has also received K15 million from this commitment.
KPHL has also supported in building of the Cancer Program in POMGH, which was stagnant for a while due to lack of funds, but has recommenced and is going on full swing from the K10 million funding from KPHL.
The Port Moresby General Hospital is hoping to receive some funds from the 2022 government budget to complete the Cancer Project.