KTF brings vital health services to rural communities in PNG through support from Canada and Australia
Kokoda Track Foundation (KTF) through its Healthy Communities Project has been bringing integrated primary healthcare services, including COVID-19 prevention and vital child and maternal health services, in rural and remote Papua New Guinea through the generous support of its partners from the Canada Fund and the Australian Government’s ANCP program.
Yesterday, KTF’s Port Moresby team were delighted to host the Canadian Deputy High Commissioner to Australia, Ms Manon Dumas, in its offices on her first official visit to PNG. KTF thanked the Deputy High Commissioner for the support of the Canada Fund for Healthy Communities as well as its support over the years for a range of other KTF initiatives including Strongim Meri Bisnis and Project Airborne.
Via the Healthy Communities project, KTF has delivered vital primary healthcare services in some of the remotest locations in rural communities throughout PNG, especially in Oro Province and Central Provinces, where much of KTF’s presence is felt and seen.
The Healthy Communities project has allowed KTF to provide the following:
Maternal and child health patrols to deliver health services and scheduled vaccinations.
Birthing kits and neonatal resuscitation devices for 24 Community Health Workers to deliver babies safely.
Personal protective equipment (PPE) and WASH resources for all of KTF’s health facilities and schools across Oro and Central provinces to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and other communicable diseases.
Professional development training conducted to improve the capacity of remote health workers to deliver quality healthcare.
Health worker training programs with all health workers supported by KTF health facilities; additional Government funded health workers were also invited to participate.
Additionally, KTF has supported the operation of 16 health facilities in remote Oro and Central provinces via the provision of drugs and medical equipment and by funding the salaries of 15 full-time health workers. Through the posting of KTF health workers to larger clinics with wide catchment areas in Oro and Central Provinces, it has enabled over 108,000 adults and children in to receive vital access to health services via the Healthy Communities project.
In Oro Province alone, over 60 villages across the province catchment have received services like the administration of vaccinations for both adults and children, maternal and child health, family planning services, TB screening, HIV awareness and testing, and Covid-19 awareness and vaccines. These have all been delivered through regular integrated health patrols conducted across health facility catchment areas in partnership with the Northern Provincial Health Authority (NPHA) and Kokoda Memorial Hospital.
KTF’s work in these regions mentioned would not be possible without the support from the Canadian government through the Canada Fund, the Australian Government through the Australia NGO Cooperation Program, and other generous donors in Australia.
Canadian Deputy High Commissioner visit to KTF’s Port Moresby office.
KTF CHW trainee, Lydia treating a patient at KTF’s Hariko Aid Post, Oro Province.
