The Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH) has acknowledged the comments made by Professor Doctor Glen Mola on the dire need of medical care by pregnant mothers and newborns and has responded highlighting their similar concerns.
Professor Mola, who is the Head of Reproductive Health, Obstetrics and Gynecology at the School of Medicine, and clinical lead of one of the two PMGH Women’s health units, spoke on the stresses on the Maternity Ward and his concerns about the provision of appropriate support for birthing mothers.
According to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PMGH, Doctor Paki Molumi, the overload situation that Professor Mola describes is common to a number of wards at the hospital, including the emergency department, labour ward, outpatient clinics, radiology and pathology services.
He said that PMGH is dealing with the challenge of providing primary and secondary health care for a rapidly growing population not just in NCD but in surrounding Gulf and Central Province. Delays in the establishment of Level five and Level four hospital facilities and staffing is compounding this challenge.
“PMGH is at the same time transitioning to become the Level 6 National Tertiary Referral, Research, and Teaching Hospital, consistent with government policy and has been making good strides on specialist services in cardiac, cancer, kidney and eye.”
A decision was taken (in consultation with PMGH’s Board, National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCD PHA), National Department of Health (NDoH) and the Ministry of Health) with regards to a Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Grant Proposal for Maternal and Child Health to establish this facility at Gerehu Hospital; a Level four Hospital.
NCD Provincial Health Authority (PHA) aims to develop the Gerehu Hospital as a center of excellence for maternal and child health, where PMGH has a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with NCD PHA to provide human resources and technical support for the facility.
Logically, Gerehu Hospital’s strategic location offers easy access to cover over seventy per cent of city residents and one hundred per cent of rural patients travelling via the Hiritano and Magi highways.
“Over 80 per cent of deliveries at PMGH are normal cases which can be handled at Gerehu allowing PMGH to concentrate on complicated deliveries and tertiary care services.”
While this longer-term plan is actioned, the concerns raised by Professor Mola do need to be addressed urgently.
Furthermore, Dr Molumi said that PMGH is working on plans to install modular delivery rooms and maternity wards at Gerehu Hospital, Six Mile Clinic and other clinics identified by NCD PHA with technical and staffing support from PMGH.
Complicated cases will be transferred to PMGH.