Thanks to recent improvements made possible by the Incentive Fund Project, the Kapuna Rural Hospital in Gulf Province has been officially acknowledged by The National Department of Health (NDOH) as a Level 4 Health Facility on November 8, 2024, after approving the Certificate of Accreditation.
Following a general health assessment of the facilities in September 2023, the NDOH National Standards and Clinician Team recommended that the facility be certified as a Level 4 Health facility, serving a catchment area of 15,000 people in the Baimuru LLG as well as the eastern regions of Kikori and Ihu LLG.
The rural hospital is now able to satisfy the expanding demands of its community thanks to its renovated facilities, which include a new emergency centre, dental clinic, birthing suites, operating rooms, and 24-hour solar power, among other amenities.
These facilities are a vital part of public health services for these areas.
In her remarks about the achievement, Kapuna Medical Superintendent Dr. Valerie Archer cited Nehemiah Chapter 6:16 in the Bible, which describes how our God has enabled this task to be completed.
Throughout the years of physical labour, she also praised the dedication of the volunteers from the Netherlands, Brazil, the United States, and New Zealand, as well as the local employees.
“Looking back, it was a big undertaking for us but I believe that God gave us the right time to rebuild. A time when Curtain Brothers had a spare pontoon, a time when TotalEnergies were able to help with regular logistics. A time when we had the right people willing and able to help us.”
“May the people of Gulf benefit from this new status, may we all benefit, and may it point in the direction to a brighter future for the people of Gulf.”
As the Papua LNG project operator, TotalEnergies EP PNG Limited assisted the Kapuna Rural Hospital team with land title, logistics for transporting building supplies from Port Moresby to Kapuna, and logistics for transporting the National Department of Health Assessment team to Kapuna.
As of right now, the project has helped Kapuna by training 200 volunteers to combat tuberculosis and installing a new TB ward and sanitary mess for 60 community health workers.
The renovation of Kapuna Rural Hospital, which ushers in a new era in healthcare delivery for the area, is the result of the combined efforts of several stakeholders, including Gulf Christian Services, the Incentive Fund of the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership, and other partners.
The recognition as a Level 4 health facility, highlight’s the hospital’s commitment to providing high-quality healthcare and its preparedness to handle more complex medical cases, benefiting the entire population it serves.