RESEARCH on medical and health delivery services is important in developing countries that face enormous health problems, and this includes PNG, the medical symposium has been told.
The research programs must involve well-defined strategic fact-based planning and development of intellectual capacity to ensure that the essential health research activities are successfully implemented, says director for PNG Institute of Medical Research Professor Peter Siba said.He shared the achievements and challenges the institute has had for the past 50 years with the symposium participants. The institute functions as a semi-autonomous research arm of the Health Department and has been conducting research into the health problems of PNG since 1968 to better understand and improve the treatment, control and prevention of the diseases, in order to improve the health of the people and the health delivery services. The major research programs are organised into units based on scientific disciplines of epidemiology, microbiology, immunology, entomology, molecular biology, molecular genetics, human behaviour, computing and statistics and are divided into five units consisting of Infection and Immunity, Sexual and Reproductive Health, Environmental and Emerging diseases, Population Health and Demography, and Malaria. Prof Siba said there were many outstanding achievements by the IMR, including the understanding and eventual eradication of kuru, identifying the aetiological agent for pig-bel and creating the vaccine. However, he said more research must be untaken on non-communicable diseases. "The major impediments are inadequate funding, lack of commitment and support for development of intellectual capacity and lack of funding and political support for strengthening and building institutional infrastructure, which are desperately needed to enable quality research. Health Research Scholarships for study abroad Comments are closed.
|
Papua New Guinea education news services: Get Free Webpage for your School. Send us your School Profile now
>> STUDY IN PNG Follow PNG Online School |