Four clinical staff from the Milne Bay Provincial Health Authority (MBPHA) have completed two weeks of intensive training recently on cervical cancer screening and treatment, equipping themselves with vital skills to protect women across their province.
This milestone was made possible through the support of the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority’s Cervical Cancer unit, which hosted the MBPHA team at the Well Women Clinic Facility at Mt Hagen Provincial Hospital.
The training combined one week of theory with a second week of hands-on practical experience. The 4 participants, including 3 nursing officers and 1 clinical health extension officer (HEO), took part under the guidance of Josephine Gabuzzi, the Project Coordinator of the Elimination of Cervical Cancer Program (ECCP), alongside other dedicated team members.
MBPHA expressed deep appreciation for the knowledge gained, emphasizing their commitment to sharing these skills back home, where many women continue to die prematurely from cervical cancer – a disease that is preventable and treatable when detected early.
MBPHA’s Clinical HEO Alice Siwawata, described the training as a breakthrough for Milne Bay PHA.
“We have learnt a lot and are anticipating to kick-start soon when we have the full equipment set,” she said. “We have had a lot of women and mothers dying from cervical cancer, and now that we have acquired the training, we will raise a lot of awareness so that many women can come forward for testing. If found positive, we will use thermal ablation, a heat-based method that destroys precancerous cells.”
She emphasized that the initiative will help build a healthier population of women who can live longer and healthier lives.
Nursing Officer Jenny Gogomira echoed the urgency, calling for similar training across other PHAs in the country.
“Cancer is one of the killer diseases in PNG, claiming the lives of many of our women and mothers. Thus, we need more training in other PHAs too so that women nationwide can access treatment and live healthy lives,” she said.
The MBPHA extended its gratitude to Western Highlands PHA’s Acting CEO Jane Holden, Dr James Tony, and the ECCP team, for their support in making the training possible.
This initiative follows similar trainings conducted in Port Moresby’s City Pharmacy Limited, New Ireland, Southern Highlands, Madang and Hela by WHPHA staff.
Ms Gabuzzi urged other PHAs in the country to take part in the training to help save lives and build a healthier population of women and girls.
