Australia is supporting the delivery of essential health care to remote communities in the Kokoda Track region where rugged terrain and distance remain a barrier to accessing medical services.
For Joyce Joe and her one-year-old son Maxwell, reaching the nearest health facility can involve a 30-minute dinghy ride followed by an hour’s drive.
“There’s a new aid post now near Sirinumu Primary School, but that’s still 30 to 40 minutes away by dinghy for us,” said Joyce.
For families like Joyce’s, the quarterly Maternal and Child Health (MCH) patrols, funded by Australia’s Kokoda Initiative Partnership, can be lifesaving.
As baby Maxwell recovered from a severe case of pneumonia, access to an MCH patrol ensured he received critical treatment and is now on the road to recovery.
“I’m grateful these services are being brought to our village. In the past, we had to travel by dinghy and then walk to Sogeri Health Centre if there was no public transport,” said Joyce.
Maxwell was one of more than 1,200 people across the Sirinumu communities who accessed essential health services during the most recent MCH patrol. Women and young people accounted for 59 per cent of those treated.
The patrol addressed a range of common health conditions, including high blood pressure, respiratory infections, helping improve community wellbeing and build healthier, more resilient, communities.
Through its partnership with the Provincial Health Authority, Australia continues to improve access to healthcare for children like Maxwell and families across the Kokoda region.
ENDS
Community Health Worker Jane Mekeya prepares to administer an injection during the MCH patrol at Forokorota village near Sirinumu dam.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100