05/05/2011

Mr Veali Pune (right), the graduates representatives of the inaugural batch of rural laboratory assistants (RLA), receiving his certificate from DWU Council Member, Dr Josh Orathinkal at the Sir Peter Barter Auditorium last Friday 29 April, 2011.	The inaugural class of RLA graduates from Divine Word University after they received their certificates last Friday, 29th April, 2011.

Divine Word University (DWU) graduated 15 rural laboratory assistants (RLAs) in a special ceremony at the Madang campus last Friday, 29th April, 2011.

The RLAs are mostly community health workers (CHWs) who work in rural health centres nationwide, returned to their workplaces with the new qualification after three months of training.

The RLAs are beneficiaries of a program funded by the Global Fund through the Department of Health who engaged DWU through its project coordination arm, Diwai Pacific Ltd.

President of DWU, Fr Jan Czuba and thanking the donors and the Health Department also congratulated the graduates.

Fr Czuba told the graduates that they were “privileged” to receive quality training that is for a worthy cause which is to save lives.

“Very few are saving lives.

“You are privileged.

“As believers (in God), you will receive your special award from God,” Fr Czuba said.

Fr Czuba said while the resources such a flashy laboratory may not be available to them, they have to be proactive and find a way around the challenges to offer their services with the new skills.

Fr Czuba thanked Global Fund and the Department of Health in assigning DWU to provide a worthy training.
He also told the graduates that the RLA qualification was not the end of training and should consider pursuing advanced studies in laboratory work for the health services.

Graduates representative, Veali Pune from Kupiano Health Centre in the Abau District of Central Province thanked Global Fund, the Health Department, DWU and their respective employers for the training.

Mr Pune said they have “learnt a lot from the training” and would go out to use their skills.

He said they required support from concerned partners in their respective job locations to work.

Professor Francis Hombhanje, the Director of DWU Centre of for Health Research who headed the training said the 15 RLAs received basic training on microscopy and other basic laboratory services.

Prof Hombhanje said this included microscopy of malaria parasites, tuberculosis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), rapid diagnostics for malaria, and cholera.

He said the RLA leads to the medical laboratory assistants (MLA) which is a six months long program. The MLA also began at the same time with the RLA and will see their graduation of its first intake in three months time.

Prof Hombhanje said MLA is an advanced program from the RLA and the current intakes are from district hospitals and provincial hospitals around the country.

He said the new batches of RLA and MLA applications are being screened and should start their program shortly.

Prof Homhanje said RLA and MLA training is the second component of the Global Fund financed malaria training program administered by the Health Department.

The first part, which has been completed recently, is the training of health workers on the new malaria treatment guidelines. This training was conducted by experts travelling to various locations around the country.

The RLA and MLA training are being conducted for the first time at DWU. It is part of the Health Department’s plan to revive the training of laboratory technicians as the lower end of the health service delivery system at the health centre and district hospital levels.