Transcript
ChildFund Australia's Nigel Spence says the rates of maternal and infant deaths are at very high levels and it is a real concern that the situation is worsening, particularly in rural areas.
"For example the number of women who are attending a proper clinic where there's trained support, the numbers have reduced in the last five years. The number of women receiving antenatal checkups during pregnancy, some of the statistics are showing that the numbers have reduced. So in some respects the situation does seem to be worsening, which is quite different to most other countries in the region."
Nigel Spence says there is an urgent need for more midwives and better health facilities, particularly in the rural villages and districts where most women are giving birth.
Olive Oa is the agency's team leader in PNG and she says the high mortality rate is mainly due to poor access to health care for the large numbers of rural women.
She says complications such as post partum bleeding, infection and prolonged and obstructed labour are difficult to manage.
She says many women end up giving birth at home and rural health clinics are often only staffed by volunteers.
"Many of the women have had more than one baby so they are quite experienced to deliver at home. And those who do not have the experience they tend to go to the village health volunteers to ask for assistance. And many unfortunately give birth in the night. So that becomes one of the problems that it's kind of an emergency that a volunteer should be able to attend to."
Obstetrican and Gynaecologist, Dr Mary Rose Bagita, says gaining access to maternity care is tough for rural women where the road conditions are poor, air transport is scarce and facilities like water supply may not exist at their local health centre.
She is based in Port Moresby where the hospital also receives referrals from surrounding provinces but by the time women reach the hospital centre she often is unable to save them.
"I think it's access mainly. So by the time the women are referred and they reach us it's usually too late. So we try our best to do the best we can to save mother and baby but in most instances it's too late."
She says many of the cases are very sad and complex societal issues often lead to worse outcomes during childbirth.
"Coming from a culture where there's male dominance and if the woman is not well educated she can't speak up for herself. She doesn't have much control over what she can do. So that adds on problems to pregnant women."
She say domestic violence has a very negative impact for both mothers and babies as women don't seek help and feel like there is no where for them to go.
Dr Bagita says PNG relies a lot on donor partners to finance the health system but those working in the feild don't feel the impact of that money and it can be difficult to even get medications to where they are needed.
Nigel Spence says providing safe maternity care in PNG is incredibly challenging for those working in the area.
"But they are challenges that can be overcome with sustained effort and sizeable investment at scale. The terrain is difficult, the accessibility is extremely difficult. At the same time there are many excellent front line health workers both professional and volunteer who are in the villages and they deserve and need so much more support."
Nigel Spence says the PNG government does have a comprehensive national health plan but it needs better administration and co-ordination to deliver health services to the whole country.