Alan Coggins 
“No woman should die to give life.” So says former Papua New Guinea’s Minister for Health, the Hon. Dr Puka Temu who describes his nation’s maternal mortality rate as a national emergency. We agree and that is why OCDP is at the forefront of tackling this emergency through internationally recognised programs such as Helping Babies Breathe and Helping Mothers Survive. Our leading OCDP experts in the field deliver…
The new Tuberculosis Ward, funded largely by OCDP donations, has led to a great improvement in the operation of Popondetta General Hospital. Patients with this highly infectious disease can now be isolated in a separate building in the hospital grounds. This is particularly important to stop the spread of multi-drug resistant strains of TB, which are more difficult to treat and are on the rise in Oro Province. With priority given to…
Oro Community Development Project (OCDP) was established after the widespread destruction caused by Cyclone Guba in November 2007.
What began on a small scale to supply basics such as books and pencils, developed into a much larger commitment to help meet some of the province’s most pressing needs.
The PNG High Commissioner, Sir Charles Lepani, officially launched OCDP. Since then…
If altruism won’t motivate Australia to increase spending on eradicating tuberculosis, how about self-interest?
The UN General Assembly spent a day last week discussing strategies for ridding the world of tuberculosis by 2030. It was the first ever “high-level meeting” on the subject at the UN, designed to…
Tuberculosis remains a major threat to PNG. The spread of the disease is becoming more widespread, affecting larger numbers of the population. Those who have developed resistance to the most effective drugs is ever growing. For some who suffer from the highly resistant strains, there are very few options. Treatment is often long and drawn out, requiring a strict adherence to drug protocols. Effective diagnosis is crucial but can often be problematic. A feeling of being overwhelmed by the situation is often common. OCDP continues its…
A new Labour Ward has been constructed at Popondetta General Hospital. This positive development for the hospital replaces a building that had first been constructed just after World War II.
Where expectant mothers give birth is an ongoing problem in PNG. Too many births still occur in the village where the chances of complications are extremely high. Often, very basically trained health professionals or those with no medical training are responsible for the birth of a baby. As well as the sanitation of the area being…
The new TB ward at Popondetta General Hospital has now been completed. It will assist the Medical Ward with highly contagious patients who suffer from TB. These patients who are currently in the Medical Ward, are amongst…
OCDP would like to welcome a new member to the OCDP team, Dr Marianne Gale. She has worked with the medical humanitarian organisation, Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) for 5 years to improve health care for…
Alan Opiri works delivering babies at Popondetta General Hospital. Before joining Popondetta General Hospital four years ago, Alan worked in various health facilities for Rural Health in his home province of…
The new TB ward at Popondetta General Hospital will be the first of its kind in PNG. Plans for its completion are now within sight. The roof has been completed as has the final fit out of the doors and windows. The deck surrounding the patient rooms is…