THE Porgera Mine in Enga Province, despite being in the care and maintenance mode continues to support the district health services.
This week the Paiam District Hospital received Rapid Antigen test kits and accessories from the Mine’s Medical Centre.
The Hospital’s Acting Medical Superintendent and General Surgeon Dr Jerry Hoga accompanied by his staff received the donation on 31 May, 2021, at the Hospital’s premises.
The 1,000 kits and accessories as well as associated medical personal protective equipment (PPE) was delivered by the Mine’s Medical Doctor Anna Lucci, and the Community and Social Responsibility Manager Trevor Liversidge.
An appreciative Dr Hoga used the occasion to shed some light on what the Hospital has been doing to date, since the first case of Coronavirus (COVID-19) was reported in the country.
“COVID as we all know is very transmissible from one person and can easily transmit to another person.
“At the end of the day it’s a virus that is going to be here for a while, and we are going to have to learn to deal with it.
“This donation is going to really help us in a big way to manage our cases and to come up with the diagnosis,” he said.
The items donated were: surgical isolation gowns, latex examination gloves, face shields, surgical face masks, hand sanitizers, neonate/pediatric resuscitations pack, pediatric elongated oxygen mask, pediatric nebulising mask, pediatric aerosol mask, pediatric burette, septrin suspension, flagyl suspension, Panadol suspension, and the nebulising therapy machine.
Mr Liversidge said the necessary resources being used by the Mine’s medical team to fight against COVID[1]19, would also be used to assist the people in the community through the health establishments such as the District Hospital.
Dr Lucci stressed on co-operation between the medical practitioners for a concerted effort toward the fight against COVID-19.
“Coronavirus is affecting all of us in the valley and we are the front liners and we are in this fight so just let us know,” she said.
Last year Barrick Niugini Limited provided at total of K800,000 in financial assistance to the hospital management to continue health services to the community.