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Cancer Awareness Visit to Jack’s of PNG
October is the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness. Earlier this month, I had the privilege of joining one of my colleagues and one of my bosses to visit Jack’s of PNG warehouse at Hohola, Port Moresby, for a cancer awareness program organized by the PNG Cancer Foundation. The Foundation regularly coordinates visits by doctors…
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What is a Full Blood Examination?
A Full Blood Examination (FBE), also known as a Full Blood Count (FBC) or Complete Blood Count (CBC), is one of the most commonly requested blood tests in hospitals and clinics across Papua New Guinea. Whether a patient is well or unwell, the FBE is often one of the first tests done. The name “full…
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Pathology as a Career in Papua New Guinea
Introduction Pathology is the study of disease. Pathology is important because in order to treat a disease we need to identify, confirm the disease and understand how the disease works. Pathology is the bridge between science and medicine. If you’ve ever been to hospital and had to get a blood test, that is a pathology…
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Nurse‑to‑patient ratios
The current nurse-to-patient ratio in my ward in Alotau Provincial Hospital which is a 32-bed surgical ward with only 16 nursing/CHW staff is roughly 1:8-10.5 for every 8-hour shift (3-4 staff/shift) if the ward is full. Night shifts can be as low as 2 staff on duty (1:16). This is not safe or practical as…
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National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender Based Violence (2016-2025) review
I recently attended the first of many National GBV 2016-2025 strategy review listening tours in Alotau run by the team from the National GBV Secretariat to share and discuss new strategies for the prevention and response to GBV in PNG into the future. The current National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence 2016-2025…
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Common misconceptions about blood tests
Blood tests are a routine part of medical diagnostics, but there are several misconceptions the public may have about them. Here are some common misconceptions: 1. Abnormal Results Always Indicate a Serious Problem Misconception: Any abnormal blood test result means a serious illness. Reality: Abnormal results can be due to a variety of factors, including…
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Food safety
I walked into my local supermarket the other day hoping to buy something nice for dinner. What greeted me at the meat section of this fairly new Asian owned store was nothing short of astonishing. The protein that was displayed did not look or smell like they were meant for human beings to buy, take…
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The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Tuberculosis Diagnosis: A Literature Review
Background Tuberculosis (TB), although preventable and curable, remains a substantial global health challenge, with the World Health Organization (WHO)[1] estimating a quarter of the world’s population has been infected with the bacteria, and 5-10% of infected persons eventually developing TB disease.[2] In 2022, TB was the world’s second leading infectious killer, ranking above HIV/AIDS, with…
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Why is My Newborn Girl Bleeding? Understanding Pseudomenstruation and What to Do
As a doctor working in the children’s emergency department, I often see parents worried when they find light bleeding in their newborn girl’s diaper. This happens a couple of times a month in my practice—just last week, I had two such cases. It’s called pseudomenstruation, and while it can be unsettling for parents, it’s a…
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Cancer pathology services in PNG
A mother of 3 in her forties comes into the cancer clinic worried and eager for answers. She has a right breast lump with associated lumps under her right armpit. She is one of many that come in every week now. Treated at the health centre with antibiotics for several weeks, she was referred for…
