It all started when…

we identified that many midwives and birth attendants did not have access to Obstetrics and Gynaecological medical manuals providing information to support their ongoing management of complicated births. Since the inception of our Health Worker Kit project, it was identified that providing a care manual with the kit (available in PNG and specific to the needs to patients in PNG) would be valuable. The committee were reviewing the Health Worker Kit Project in 2021 and reached out to the author of the manuals who responded with “The O&G standard treatment manual is the best resource for the health worker kits.  They are free from the National dept of Health; however, there is a shortage of supplies at the moment.  I ama told last week by the head of the MCH section in NDOH that a new print run has been ordered.  

“Books on Standard Treatments are of utmost importance to our health workers and people, for they ensure the most efficient and best possible medical service for our country. Standard treatment regimes should be used in all cases unless there are specific professional reasons to do otherwise.

The medical supply system and the teaching programmes are all linked. Writing such books requires considerable skill, insight into local problems and disease patterns, and effort. The Health Department thanks Professor Glen Mola and other members of the Papua New Guinea Society of Obstetrics and Gynaecology; the Department of Health is most grateful for their energy in doing this important task”.

In November 2022, The Highlands Foundation partnered with the A.C.M. Buddy Program and The PNG Society of Midwives to get 135 Manual of Standard Managements in Obstetrics and Gynaecology for Doctors, H.E.O.s and Nurses in Papua New Guinea to the Kompiam District Hospital in Enga Province and to the Labour Ward Manager, Aiva Pikuri in Goroko. This initiative was a three-year project.

The manuals are written by Prof Mola, reprinting is funded by WHO and distributed by PNG NDOH. Professor Glen Mola is an Australian-born professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology who has worked in Papua New Guinea for over 40 years, primarily at the Port Moresby General Hospital. He has been a prominent advocate for improving maternal health services and has held a leadership position in the School of Medicine and Health Sciences at the University of PNG. His work has included training local medical professionals and raising awareness about challenges in PNG's healthcare system.

The manuals were picked up by Paula Zebedee PNG Society of Midwives (Vice President) and Ann Hallett The Highlands Foundation (Vice President). They were sent as excess luggage with Paula to Mt Hagen. Paula organised their journey to the Kompiam District Hospital and Goroka Hospital with many thanks from The Highlands Foundation; the Highlands Foundation funded the Excess luggage.

Goroka Hospital and The Kompiam District Hospital distributed these books to the staff on the ground who provide maternity, obstetric and gynaecological care to women and their babies in PNG—a similar but more extensive resource to the Australian CARPA manual used in the Australia remote areas. The manual is an excellent resource to guide care. The Highlands Foundation has packed 30 health worker kits marked for the Goroka Hospital and the surrounding region. So many valuable players and complexities to get this resource out to the staff and women who need them.