Last Newsletter (pg.4)pg.1 |pg.2 |pg.3 |pg.5 |pg.6 |pg.7 |pg.8 HIV/AIDSPNG is fast heading in the same direction as Sub-Saharan Africa with HIV infections increasing at an average of 30% per year. The Post Courier recently reported that Port Moresby General Hospital attends to 115 new HIV/AIDS patients every week and 14 people die every day from opportunistic infections. This is likely to be a gross underestimate of the problem because there is no system of recording deaths from AIDS related conditions occurring outside of the main urban centres. HIV/AIDS is a major component of our educational programmes, particularly those for the Village Health Volunteers. We recently redistributed to all of our health workers, the Distance Learning Course compiled by Sr Lesley Ririka. We will be arranging a series of activities on International AIDS day on December 1st, to heighten awareness. Village Health Promotion In September, we ran a workshop at Oro Bay for new Village Health Promoters. There were 19 participants, plus Coordinators:- Newton Orowari (NGI), Jacqueline Karu (Popondota), Matthew Kuraiwae (Aipo Rongo) - since appointed as National Coordinator). They all attended our Training of Trainerslast year and continuing their training as Diocesan Coordinators for their respective dioceses. Also in September, we ran a refresher for the VHPs at Wanigela, which makes a total of 3 full workshops, and 2 refresher workshops this year. Florence Alfred, who we trained as Diocesan VHP Coordinator for Dogura, has also run her first workshop on her own, at Tarakwaruru. We are really delighted to see the progress being made with this programme and the growing confidence and enthusiasm of the Coordinators and Facilitators. Thank you, and well done everyone. VBAs and VHAs We are pleased to report the success of the VBA and VHA programmes. Village Birth Attendants have been trained this year at:- Sakarina, Manau, Oro Bay, Koinambe, Togban, Tsendiap, Aumo. Thank you to Coordinators Rebecca Ezron, Dabik Suari and Cathleen Diop. Village Health Aides have been trained this year at:- Sakarina, Oro Bay, Gona, Manau, Wanigela, Tsendiap, Movi, Togban, Dogura. Thank you to Coordinators Matthew Kuraiwae, David Kirata and Phillipa Dimerua. |