This year we celebrate World Children’s Day with new life. The newly upgraded facilities at the Bosset sub-health centre provided resources that helped health workers to save a premature baby’s life.
A young woman and her husband who were expecting their first baby arrived at the Bosset health centre experiencing labour pains. She had only attended one antenatal visit throughout her pregnancy.
The health workers estimated that she was 36 weeks pregnant and was about to give birth to a premature baby.
Following a long labour, the newborn baby developed complications and was diagnosed with a neonatal infection and apnea attacks.
Health workers saw the baby was having respiratory failure and transferred him to the new facility equipped with oxygen therapy. Previously, the centre did not have birthing or support facilities, with expectant mothers having to travel many hours by boat to Kiunga to access health services.
Nursing Officer Francis Navis was grateful for the new facility and its resources: “There was 24-hour power supply with good light, an oxygen concentrator, glucometer to check the baby’s glucose level and the pulse-oximeter to check for oxygen level.”
Over the course of eight days of administering oxygen therapy and antibiotics, the baby’s vital signs became stable, and he was breathing normally.
“We are privileged and thankful for the new health facility with its resources. Even though the facility is yet to officially open, our decision to use the facility and its resources has helped us saved the baby’s life.”
The Bosset Sub-Health centre upgrade is funded by the Australian Government with a PGK 16.79 million Incentive Fund grant to Catholic Health Service Kiunga.
The upgrade includes inpatient and outpatient departments, an emergency and observation room, treatment rooms, a laboratory, minor operating theatre, dental clinic, general and malnutrition wards, a maternity wing, TB and HIV ward and staff housing.
The facility was certified and approved for use by the Kiunga Department of Works after it passed the building compliance standards inspection.
The upgraded facilities support improved service provision to around 14,000 people within the catchment area in Western Province’s Middle Fly district, who previously travelled up to 12 hours to Kiunga to access essential health care services.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100
Nursing officer Francis Navis with the baby.