Kainantu District Hospital opens new mobile X-ray machine

Kainantu District Hospital in Eastern Highlands Province has officially opened its new K600,000 Mobile X-ray machine on Tuesday.

The new mobile x-ray machine was funded by the Eastern Highlands Provincial Government with the value of K600,000.

It was officially opened by Eastern Highlands Governor Simon Sia and the Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority Chairman Chris Kopyoto.

The new x-ray machine will cater to people from Kainantu, Obura-Wonenara, Okapa, and Henganofi districts, as well as patients from Markham in Morobe Province, Ramu in Madang Province and traveliers on the highlands highway.

Governor Sia said when he first took office in 2022, the first issue that was brought to his attention by the people of Eastern Highlands Province was the state of their health facilities.

The Governor said Kainantu Hospital will be a priority under his leadership.

"I am currently discussing with the Kainantu Gold Mine CEO about the second credit scheme, earmarked for Kainantu Hospital upgrades,"Mr Sia said.

Mr Sia, together with Chairman of Eastern Highlands Provincial Health Authority Chris Kopyioto presented a K600,000 Cheque to Brian Bell Group General Manager Todd Mackenzie to supply the Mobile X-ray machine from its Meddent Health Supplies shop in Port Moresby in Secember last year.

Kaiantu Hospital acting Chief Medical Officer Dr Joseph Amos said since 2018 the hospital xray machine was malfunctioned and out of service, forcing patients to seek x-ray services at Kassam Health Center, SIL and Goroka Provincial Hospital.

The hospital has been treating patients using manual X-ray methods, and technical staff spend most of their time in the radiology department," Dr Amos said.

He said the installation of the new X-ray system will now reduce travel costs for patients and improve service efficiency,

The new mobile x-ray machine features direct imaging, displaying the image on-screen immediately after scanning," Amos said.