The Tininga Group of Companies of Mt Hagen has again come to the aid of the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority by meeting all expenses for its heart patients travelling to Port Moresby and Lae for further screening and operations.
The company has met the transport and accommodation costs for those patients travelling directly to Port Moresby for operations and to Lae for further screening by visiting cardiologists.
A cardiology team from Port Moresby General Hospital was at Mt Hagen Provincial Hospital in late June and conducted screenings for both paediatric and adult out-patients from Mt Hagen and Kudjip Hospitals.
The Australian Government through its Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has made available about A$19 million for the provision of health services in the Western Highlands Province in the last 12 months.
The money includes grants that DFAT has provided to Non-Government Organizations operating in the province as well as the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority and other health partners to improve people’s access to quality health services.
The Auditor of Health & HIV Implementation Services Provider (HHISP), Mr. Luke Tatnell revealed this in Mt Hagen recently when presenting some medical equipment to the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority.
During a small but significant ceremony at Mt Hagen Hospital on 18th July 2014, Mr. Tatnell presented stethoscopes, aluminium water bottles and torches to be distributed to clinics throughout the province.
“This is part of Australia’s broader support in strengthening health services across the region.
“Over the past 12 months, Australia has provided about A$19 million in grants to NGOs, the Provincial Health Authority and other health partners in WHP to improve people’s access to quality health services”, Mr. Tatnell said.
He said the Australian government has also provided valuable technical assistance through a long-term health management adviser to support the Provincial Health Authority and numerous short-term advisers to strengthen financing, infrastructure and health service delivery.
The then Acting Chief Executive Officer of the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority, Ms. Julie Bengi expressed the authority’s appreciation to Mr. Tatnell and his team for the donation of the medical equipment.
She said to some people these may be small things but to those who constantly see the ugly face of what diseases and accidents can do to lives, these are valuable and precious gifts.
“These are the tools we sometimes don’t have readily available to provide the treatment and care our patients need and they will assist us to perform our caring responsibilities with a bit more confidence and efficiency.
“They may be small and few in number but we cannot underestimate their usefulness. They will add much value and contribute significantly towards our efforts in providing an efficient and effective health care service to our people”, she said.
