A skilled and growing volunteer health workforce for Kokoda region

Australia has supported the training of 52 Village Health Volunteers to improve health services for communities in the Kokoda Track region, as part of the PNG-Australia Kokoda Initiative.

The group, including 18 new volunteers, graduated in a ceremony in Kokoda on 24 April.

The volunteers will support registered health staff to provide services including monitoring and supporting TB clients, conducting health checks and delivering information to pregnant women.

Speaking at the ceremony, Australian High Commission Counsellor Brek Batley said the certification and recognition celebrated the volunteers’ role as an important part of PNG’s community-based health system.

“Through the Kokoda Initiative, Australia and Papua New Guinea are committed to supporting the volunteer program in Sogeri, Mt Koiari and Kokoda. Further training and supervision will be provided to ensure that volunteers have the opportunity to meet their individual potential,” Mr Batley said.

Oro Provincial Health Adviser Copeland Love said that volunteers are an important component of involving communities to support their own health service delivery.

“They will support more than 18,000 people in the 24 wards of the Kokoda LLG region. The VHVs will work alongside health workers in their regular health patrols to administer vaccines, delivery health awareness programs and provide general health services,” Mr Love said.

“Our partnership with local-level government in the planning and implementation has been critical in delivering this training as a priority health initiative for the region. These volunteers are now certified to help provide life-saving treatment in some of the most difficult to reach communities in the country.”

The new volunteers were presented with uniforms and aid post supplies that included first aid and birthing kits and toilet seats. The training is one of the most intensive programs endorsed by the National Department of Health and uses real life examples including topics in safe motherhood, healthy children, disease control, and self-help care.

The Kokoda Initiative is a partnership between the governments of Papua New Guinea and Australia working with the Oro and Central Provincial Administrations. The Kokoda Initiative supports health, education and water and sanitation initiatives in the Kokoda Track region.