OCDP reports on the real Papua New Guinea
22 July 2009
Oro
Community Development Project
It
is relatively simple to distort the image of Papua New Guinea
If
you spend some time moving about the provinces and talking with the people, you
find the real pulse of the place.
They
experience the same emotions as we do – they laugh, cry, become frightened, express
compassion, love and joy. They want to be successful, want the best for their
children. Now through access to the internet and mobile phones at the village
level, they know what is happening around the world.
While
there are signs of worthwhile progress that benefit the majority, there is
still a way to go.
After
the OCDP team’s visit to Oro Province
The
two village schools to be supported are St James’ School at Hohorita and Holy Cross School
Clean Hands, Good Health and Bright Smiles, Bright Futures are health initiatives developed by
Colgate-Palmolive. Their target is to improve the health of children and
communities around the world through education and prevention. Colgate has agreed
to partner OCDP to help implement the basic daily practices of
good hygiene.
This
involves brushing teeth both day and night, using toothbrushes and toothpaste
as well as focusing on regular hand washing at certain times throughout
the day. Colgate will become actively involved by both supplying materials and
personnel. This initiative will become part of the daily program at the
beginning of each school day and will be the responsibility of the class
teacher.
The
maternal and infant death rates in PNG are the highest of any other Pacific
nation and equate to some of the worse rates in Africa.
Much of this can be attributed to inadequate hygiene practices during
childbirth. For most mothers, the only option is to deliver the baby in the
village.
OCDP
have become an official Zonta International distributor of the highly acclaimed
birthing kits. These are the size of a cigarette box and contain materials
that assist in following the six clean methods of delivery – clean hands, clean
birth surface, clean ties, clean cut, clean cord care and clean eyes.
The
kit consists of a piece of soap for washing hands and mother before delivery, a
clean sheet for the child during delivery, a sterile razor blade to cut the
cord, clean ties to tie the ‘rope’ and swabs to clean the baby’s eyes after
delivery.
The
Mother’s Union in Popondetta fully support
OCDP and will assist in the distribution of up to 3 000, kits each year
becoming an integral part of the program. OCDP
health professionals will accept responsibility for the training of the
Mothers’ Union volunteers. There is also the vital requirement for the careful
monitoring of the effectiveness of the campaign.
Malaria
causes more deaths in PNG than any other disease including HIV/Aids. The use of anti-malaria bed nets dramatically
reduces the adverse impact. ‘Rotarians Against Malaria’ has been given major
responsibility for organising the distribution of anti-malaria bed nets in PNG.
The Global Fund in Geneva
OCDP
hope to be involved in this process in Oro Province
For further information please
contact the Project at [email protected]
Source: Newsletter of the
Oro Community Development Project
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