Sister Philomena addressing the participants during the certification ceremony at the Peter Torot Training Center
In an effort to improve community health and wellbeing, the Ok Tedi Development Foundation OTDF WaSH Team, in partnership with Catholic Health Services, conducted a four day training session for Village Health Volunteers (VHV). The training was held at the Peter Torot Training Hall from August 26th to 29th, 2024.
This initiative is a refresher training designed for VHVs working within the Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) communities. The training aims to equip volunteers with vital information and skills to support pregnant women, ensure effective antenatal care, child nutrition and care as well as prevention of malnutrition. By doing so, the program aims to ensure safe and healthy childbirths and improve overall children health outcomes in these communities.
With a focus on Health and Hygiene for the community the training covered several critical areas, including health and hygiene for babies and growing children, effective antenatal care practices, and the identification of malnutrition and prevention. By reinforcing these key aspects, the program intends to empower VHVs with the necessary knowledge and tools to better support expectant mothers and growing children in their communities.
“This refresher training is essential for our VHVs, who play a crucial role in our community health systems,” said Rody Ukins, North Fly District Hospital Health Manager. “By equipping them with up to date knowledge and practical skills, we aim to enhance their capacity to provide quality care and support, especially to the most vulnerable members of our community.”
The refresher training serves as a pilot initiative to explore how the WaSH program can better use the existing VHV health system to improve overall health outcomes in the CMCA communities. By utilising the skills and presence of VHVs, OTDF WaSH Program hope to create a more integrated and efficient community WaSH framework that addresses not only child health but also broader public health challenges.
“We are excited to collaborate with OTDF on this important initiative,” said Sr. Philomena , Catholic Health Services. “Our goal is to build a healthier community by ensuring that our VHVs are well-prepared to handle various health challenges and provide effective care at the community level.”
OTDF and Catholic Health Services will assess its effectiveness in order to improve and expand the program in the future. This initiative is part of a broader strategy to strengthen community health systems, ensuring that local health volunteers are well-equipped to meet the needs of their communities.
“Through this partnership we can help address some of the issues of Health, family planning and nutrition in communities,” Moses Kalup, Manager PSSD- OTDF. “OTDF is here to add value and support the system in terms of bridging good health to the communities.”
The four-day training session concluded on August 29th, with plans for further collaboration between OTDF, Catholic Health Services, to continue improving health outcomes in Western Province. This initiative is a step toward building a sustainable health care system in these communities, driven by local volunteers and supported by expert partnerships.