The Papua New Guinea National Department of Health (NDoH) through the COVID-19 Emergency Response Project (ERP) funded by the World Bank Pacific Health Portfolio Projects has 40 containers packed with Personal Protective Equipment (PPEs) for 20 Provincial Health Authorities (PHAs).
Gulf PHA, National Capital District PHA & Central PHA have received their supplies.
PPEs for distribution to the PHAs include hand sanitizers, face mask, gowns, aprons, sterile surgical and disposable hand gloves, oxygen masks, oxygen tubes among other items including medical laboratory commodities.
All PHAs will receive two 20ft containers of PPEs.
Supplies for Milne Bay PHA have been shipped out and should have arrived in Alotau on the 14th December.
PHAs listed to receive their PPE supplies by shipment include Oro, Milne Bay, Western PHA (Kiunga & Daru), Morobe, Madang PHA, East Sepik PHA-ESPHA, West Sepik, Manus, New Ireland PHA – NIPHA, East New Britain, West New Britain, ARoB, Eastern Highlands, Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority, Enga PHA, Southern Highlands PHA, Hela PHA, Jiwaka & Simbu PHA.
Central PHA Infection Protection and Control Officer Ruben Aihi when receiving the PPEs on behalf of the CEO thanked the World Bank, the NDoH, and the COVID-19 ERP for supplying the PPEs.
“The supply of these PPEs is timely as we have run very short and often at times find other means to support and to care for our sick people in our hospitals and clinics,” said Mr. Aihi.
Containers for Western should have arrived in Daru while Milne Bay should have arrived over the weekend Saturday and New Ireland today.
It is expected that by the end of January 2025, all PHAs will have received their PPE and Laboratory commodity supplies.
Post PNG Ltd has been engaged by the NdoH to deliver the 40 containers across the 22 PHAs.