Susu Mamas’ outreach program in bringing maternal and child health services right into the hearts of villages in Papua New Guinea has been a key deliverable of immunisation coverage in rural areas to supplement and strengthen Government services.
In the last year, they fully immunised more than 6,000 children against diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, hepatitis B and haemophilus influenza type B, and more than 4,000 children have been immunised against measles. The outreach program, including child immunisations is delivered across five provinces – Western Highlands, Eastern Highlands, Jiwaka, National Capital District and Gulf provinces.
Outreach is a key service offered by Susu Mamas, where health teams travel to as many locations as possible across the country. By taking clinics to villages, they ensure all Papua New Guineans have access to basic services, particularly maternal and child health.
In partnership with Marie Stopes through support of the Australian Government, the two non-governmental organisations have come together to deliver the Wok Wantaim na Kamapim Stronpela Famili – Partnering for Strong Families program across PNG.
Mother of four, Jill Itoye, is grateful her children can access child health services at Susu Mamas outreach clinics not far from where she lives.
She recently attended an outreach clinic at Pump Station near Bomana in Port Moresby, where her youngest received his scheduled 12-month immunisations.
“I’ve been coming here for the last six years and had all my antenatal checks for my three younger children. Deroll, my youngest, is 12-months-old and I’ve brought him here to get his scheduled vaccination,” Ms Itoye said.
Veronica Kahona is the facility manager of the Susu Mamas clinic in Goroka, Eastern Highlands Province. Her team delivers regular outreach services every week.
“We have four sites where we provide outreach services – Unggai-Bena, Okapa, Daulo and, of course, Goroka, our main town. We also support the Goroka Provincial Health Division when they need help with manpower to carry out their campaigns, such as the current nationwide campaign to have children under-five vaccinated against polio,” Ms Kahona explained.
And the numbers are positive, with between 60 to 90 mothers and children attending recent outreach clinics in Goroka and Okapa.
Susu Mamas not only makes immunisation more accessible through outreach services, children are also immunised at no cost.
Master Jeddy is the facility manager for Susu Mama’s Port Moresby clinic, the same clinic that provides outreach services in Bomana, where Ms Itoye regularly attends.
“Immunisation is so important for our children. It protects them. We have seen recently that polio has resurfaced in PNG. Diseases such as polio have no cure, but they can be prevented if our children are properly vaccinated,” Master Jeddy said.
“Other diseases, such as measles, pneumonia and whooping cough are also common in PNG, but they can also be prevented if children are properly vaccinated.”
Susu Mamas has also treated 950 children for malnutrition, something that Ms Itoye experienced first-hand with one of her younger children.
“My three-year-old was recently suffering from malnutrition and I brought her here to Susu Mamas. The nurses helped me with advice on nutrition and with a referral to the main hospital to seek further help. She is doing much better now, gaining weight and eating better,” Ms Itoye said.
With all her children now vaccinated, Ms Itoye is an advocate for Susu Mamas, and for the immense value of outreach services in helping families protect their children and seek health care when needed.
“Susu Mamas have been running community awareness campaigns in this area for years now and now all my children have been immunised. They are protected against a lot of the common diseases that are preventable, such as measles, polio and others. And all the vaccinations are free as well. I would encourage other mothers to visit Susu Mamas, for all their mother and child health needs,” Ms Itoye concluded.
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12-month-old Deroll receives his one-year immunisation at a Susu Mamas outreach clinic at Pump Station, Bomana. Deroll’s mother, Jill, brings all her children to the regular Susu Mama out-reach clinics.