Report by Roger Thornton, our representative in the scoping team;
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"Working with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), Rotary Central Melbourne has developed a plan for a vocational training team to deliver a “train the trainer” program in Papua New Guinea, intended to address a significant skill shortage in anaesthesia and pain medicine in the country. During the first week of November, I was a member of a 5 person scoping team, charged with responsibility for carrying out a community needs analysis and evaluating the feasibility of the proposal. The visit was in preparation for applying for a Rotary Global Grant to fund a 3 year program of vocational training.
We visited four major hospitals – Port Moresby and Lae General Hospitals - and two in the Highlands at Mt Hagen and Kudjip. Wherever we went, the message was essentially the same: hospitals are desperate for trained anaesthetists and have to rely on the services of anaesthetic technical officers (ATOs), who have only had one year of formal training. And ATOs need to enhance their skills with more training.
Another outcome of our visit was a better understanding that the management of patients’ and out-patients’ pain is generally not taught in medical schools and nurses’ colleges, nor on the job. ANZCA has developed a three day “train the trainer” course on Essential Pain Management, especially for PNG. This course is applicable to medical professionals at all levels and can be taught by those who themselves have been through the course. Through the proposed three year program, this course will be presented to as many people as possible.Assisting with delivery of the program will be the Rotary Club of Lae Huon Gulf, whose members we met in Lae near the end of our visit. This is a small but dynamic club (50:50 men & women; 50:50 PNG nationals & expats). When we explained what we are hoping to achieve, President Catherine Galgal and her executive assured us that they would help in any way they could.
So, a short but encouraging visit. Let’s hope that we’re awarded a global grant, because the need is great and I’m confident that we have the capacity to deliver."
Photos: Upper - Roger with the visiting scoping team and hosts. Lower - Mt Hagen General Hospital, ICU ward and nursing team.