BY JOY OFASIA
THE nationwide drug shortage is causing difficulties for patients at Nafinua Area Health Centre in the remote East region of Malaita province to access essential medications.
Registered nurse and supervisor of Nafinua Area Health Centre, Enly Tua, said the shortage has led to delays in treatment, increased wait times for appointments, and concerns about the overall quality of patient care.
Enly said the drug situation has escalated to the point where patients are being sent home without any treatment.
“Currently, we are running short on drugs, and patients have been sent back to their villages without taking with them treatments, which is a very sad scene.
“Sterile water, gauze, wool, and other basic medications like primaquine and other medications are also out of stock,” he told SUNDAY ISLES.
Enly said they are cautiously searching for alternative medications or treatments, but the shortage has hindered their ability to provide the desired level of care.
He also revealed that other nearby clinics are dealing with the same problem and that sending patients back with instructions to practice at home is the only alternative choice available to them.
“The best advice we can give our visiting patients is home care; we also advise them to exercise caution in all of their activities to prevent illness and unplanned accidents,” the supervisor of Nafinua Area Health Centre said.
He noted that one of the most common diseases in this region is malaria, and the lack of available treatments is a major problem in and of itself.
Enly has called on the Ministry of Health and Medical Services and the appropriate authorities to take swift action and handle this matter.
“I am urging the government’s ministry of health and medical services to address the shortage promptly to ensure that patients in rural areas are not left without vital medications.
“Please take this into consideration, especially in the rural area setting, as it is affecting the lives of our patients.
“As the shortage continues to impact patient care in rural clinics across the country, it is essential for the government and its key stakeholders to collaborate and find solutions to ensure that all individuals have access to the medications they need for their health and well-being,” he said.
