The National Capital District Provincial Health Authority (NCDPHA), with the support of WaterAid PNG, has successfully concluded the first round of Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) and Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) training across all districts’ urban health facilities and Gerehu General Hospital.
Unlike previous years, the IPC training was delivered directly at each health facility, ensuring that all staff, from clinicians and nurses to cleaners, support workers, and administrators, were able to participate. This inclusive approach reflects NCDPHA’s recognition that IPC is not solely a clinical focus but a cross-cutting program essential to every aspect of healthcare operations.
The training was conducted across the following facilities:
- District Health Services Urban Clinics: Nine Mile, Six Mile, Gordons, Morota, Tokarara, St. Therese Hohola, Metoreia Urban Health Center, Lawes Road, Badili, Vabukori, and Pari Clinics.
- Gerehu General Hospital: Pools A, B, and C.
The ssessions were delivered over two months (July–August 2026), ensuring comprehensive coverage across all urban health facilities.
The IPC/WASH training covered four key modules:
- Advocacy and Socialization of the PNG National IPC Guidelines 2025 – introducing the vision, mission, and goals of the National IPC Policy 2021–2031, and operationalizing these at the facility level.
- WASH in Health Care Facilities – preparing facilities to manage the ongoing El Niño drought season, calculating water consumption needs, reinforcing WHO standards for purification and disinfection, and strengthening hygiene practices.
- Environmental Health: Decontamination and Reprocessing – emphasizing safe cleaning of hospital surfaces, furniture, and medical equipment to protect patients and staff.
- Healthcare Waste Management – reinforcing safe practices from waste generation to treatment and disposal, supported by SOPs and awareness posters.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of NCD Provincial Health Authority Dr. Robin Oge said: “This training marks a turning point in how we strengthen infection prevention and control across our facilities.” He said that by bringing IPC and WASH training directly to our clinics and hospital wards, we are ensuring that every staff member regardless of role is equipped with the knowledge and skills to protect themselves, their patients, and their communities.” Dr Oge added, “IPC is everyone’s responsibility, and NCDPHA will continue to champion these standards to deliver safe, dignified, and quality healthcare for all.”
The NCDPHA’s management extends its sincere appreciation to WaterAid PNG for their continuous support throughout the training season. Their contributions were instrumental in ensuring the success of this initiative.
By integrating IPC into daily clinical and operational practices, NCDPHA is committed to raising healthcare standards, safeguarding staff and patients, and delivering quality care across all facilities.
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