Port Moresby General’s Obstetrics & Gynaecology Division like all provincial and district hospitals around the country will be able to provide proper support to difficult births and save the lives of mothers and newborns.
This is thanks to the donation of 35 Vacuum Sets by the United Nations Population Fund Country office recently. 24 hours a day midwives at Port Moresby General Hospital and throughout the country strive to ensure that mothers experience safe deliveries while reducing maternal and newborn deaths.
Head of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Port Moresby General Hospital Professor Glen Mola, welcomed the life saving sets and expressed the importance of having the right equipment available for emergencies.
“These instruments are essential to help mothers during labor when they are having difficulties delivering their baby.”
“It can save the lives of both the mother and baby.”
Professor Glen Mola confirmed that the vacuum sets will be distributed to all provincial and district hospitals throughout PNG starting this week to assist trained health professionals during difficult child deliveries.
PNG’s Midwifery Society President Sr. Mary Sitaing shared similar sentiments adding that there has been a shortage of vacuum kits in the country since 2010.
“Vacuum extractor sets are very important instruments for health workers, especially in assisting those mothers who cannot have a normal delivery due to complications that are life threatening to both the mother and child’s lives.”
“We thank development partners, especially UNFPA for their continuous support to midwives through such supplies.” UNFPA Country Representative Ms. Marielle Sander said the Agency’s commitment to bridge the gaps between availability of medical supplies and equipment to health facilities throughout the country. “Investing in midwives leads to a world where every pregnancy is wanted and every childbirth is safe and this is at the heart of UNFPA’s three transformative results, especially in Papua New Guinea.”
“As part of this delivery, Laerdal Global Health (Norway) has provided birthing mannequins to the Midwifery Society so that midwives can keep their life-saving skills up-to-date.” UNFPA has supported this workforce with the equipment and medicines they need to provide the best care to women and girls in PNG.