PACIFIC International Hospital (PIH) has recently successfully delivered a two-day cancer awareness and screening outreach in Kokopo, East New Britain Province.
The outreach offered vital health services to residents in East New Britain where specialist care remains scarce.
Held at the PIH Medical Centre in Takubar Industrial Estates on Friday, 20 June and Saturday, 21 June, the outreach was led by visiting PIH Cancer Specialist Dr Suresh Raghunath.
The program focused on cancer consultations, screenings, and public education with patients traveling from within and outside Kokopo to seize the rare chance to meet with an oncologist.
“We’ve been operating in East New Britain for nearly six months now and quickly recognised the gap in specialist oncology services,” said Maxwell Kababa, Clinic Supervisor at PIH Kokopo. “The demand was too great to ignore. That’s why we made it a priority to bring the doctor here.”
The visit was met with appreciation from patients, many of whom came from families with cancer histories or ongoing concerns.
Some travelled at short notice; others made financial sacrifices, knowing this chance might not come again soon.
“Most of the people who turned up were self-sponsored,” he said. “They saw the value in getting checked now rather than waiting.
For many, the cost of travelling to Port Moresby would have made this impossible.”
Over the two days, 16 patients were seen, six on Friday and ten on Saturday with others who booked unable to attend due to personal or financial reasons. Still, the response confirmed the importance of accessible healthcare.
Community members have since requested more advance notice in future to allow broader participation, especially for those who must plan around work, travel, or financial limitations.The outreach also reinforced a critical truth that those in remote parts of the province still face serious barriers to cancer care.
“If they can’t reach us, we have to start reaching them,” Mr Kababa said. Plans are now being developed to take outreach programs deeper into rural areas, once resources allow.
PIH also encouraged patients who missed the outreach to register for future specialist visits.
Once enough appointments are scheduled, the hospital will facilitate return visits from cancer, ENT, eye, and other specialists.
“This was never a one-off event,” he said. “It’s the beginning of something more consistent and community-focused.The response has told us clearly that the need is there and so is the will.”
