Think before you speak

Did you know that more than 80% of health care in PNG is provided by health workers other than doctors? These workers include CHW's (community health workers) formely known as aid post ordelies, Nursing staff, HEO's (health extension officers) which are known as paramedics in other countries, Village birth attendents, etc.

This group of people provide the driving force behind the rural health services in this country. These people are still there when doctors go home to sleep (mind you, it does help that in hospitals, nurses have 8 hour shifts, compared to 24hours on duty if you are a doctor).

I have noticed many a time that they are not given the respect they deserve by the public. Take urban clinics and outpatient departments, for example. They are harrassed by people wanting to be seen quickly and people complain how slow these health workers are. If these same people take the time to observe their surroundings, perhaps they will notice that the ratio of patients to health staff maybe (on a busy day) 300+ patients : 2-3 health workers. Then try and apply this ratio to another profession, say education, perhaps. 300+ students to 2 - 3 teachers means roughly 100 students per teacher in one classroom per day. Outrageous isn't it? Consider for a moment what this ratio means to your own profession. Treating 300+ people can wear the smile off anyone's face when you're constantly harassed along the way.

So, next time you require medical attention, STOP, take a step back and observe the situation in the clinic you attend before you fire verbal abuse at the health workers there.