Three of the region's local health professionals have returned from Papua New Guinea after participating in the 'No Roads Foundation' outreach program, to provide much-needed health care for remote communities.

Doctor Chris O'Brien along with nurses Erin O’Brien and Kristy Hinton from Alpine Health's Bright Hospital, returned last week after seven days working in the remote Tufi Province, with eight other medical personnel including nurses, midwives and an occupational therapist.

The 'No Roads Foundation' is an Australian organisation which supports medical services in Papua New Guinea, educating nurses and healthcare workers to leave remote communities better than when the visiting medical team arrived.

"We went over in a supportive and teaching role," Dr O'Brien said.

"We were there to educate and support their local health network, as well as run some outreach clinics in remote villages.

"Papua New Guinea has the highest rate of Tuberculosis (TB) in the world, high rates of tropical diseases and a lot of their community is quite remote, so it's a challenge for their own government to provide health care to their own population.

"A large part of trip was to screen and commence treatment for TB, which requires six months of treatment and to educate patients on long-term treatment and antibiotics.

"In this case, our patients' access to the next level of care is probably a six-hour trip by canoe, which they would not have been able to access if we hadn't run these clinics.

"Overall the environment was challenging, but the trip was rewarding due to how much we were able to assist the local medical team.

"Our midwives helped saved the lives of a mother and child when they delivered the baby, who was certainly obstructed, and would not have survived without their help."

Nurses Erin and Kristy were both sponsored by the Bright Rotary Club to make the journey this year.

"It’s a great example of locals using their skills to make a real difference beyond our region," Morgan O'Brien said.

"Their work really shows the generosity and community spirit we’re lucky to have here in the Alpine Shire."

For more information, visit: https://noroadsfoundation.com/