The Pediatricians or children doctors from Port Moresby General Hospital have arrived in Mt. Hagen on Monday morning, and travelled the Okuk Highway to Chimbu, and began conducting a two-day heart screening clinic for children at the Kundiawa General Hospital, Chimbu province.
The two female specialist doctors led by a chief pediatrician Dr. Cornelia Kilalang and Pediatrician Dr. Kunera Kiromat, and Chimbu PHA Pediatric team to screen about 100 plus children presented with possible heart defects or diseases.
According to Chief Pediatrician Dr. Cornelia Kilalang about 25 children were screened on Monday, and would continue to Tuesday.
Dr. Kilalang has thanked the Chimbu Provincial Health Authority under the leadership of Senior Medical Officers and Pediatricians Dr. Doreen Panauwe and Dr. Joseph Ande for providing logistics, accommodation and per diem for the two doctors.
Dr. Kilalang also added that the heart screening program is made possible through the Operation Open Heart Foundation Inc. supported by its donor partners such as Bank South Pacific, Sir Brian Bell Foundation and Exxon Mobil.
Dr. Panauwe also expressed that these children with their parents travelled within the Chimbu province, Southern Highlands, Jiwaka and Mt. Hagen for the specialist heart screening clinic.
“The children and their parents came to the Kundiawa General Hospital early as 7am and waited for the Operation Open Heart (OOH) pediatric team for screening.” Dr. Panauwe said.
