Strong Willed & Determined

Dorothy Tira comes from Southern Highlands Province (SHP) and is the only girl in a family of three.
Her zeal and determination to further her education enabled her to receive financial support from the Business and Professional Women’s (BPW) Club of Port Moresby to help pay for her school fees.

Since Grade 10 BPW has supported Dorothy to achieve her goals. And in June last month she graduated with a Certificate in Community Health Worker from St. Gerrard’s Community Health Worker School. She was among 13 out of the 25 students enrolled in the Community Health Worker (CHW) program that graduated. 

While undertaking her CHW program, an important component of her study was to undergo a one month practical in a local community. As part of the CHW assessment, Dorothy along with six other members of her class was assigned to Inauaia village of the Mekeo District. They lived with a family for one month and observed the personal hygiene practices of that community.

Dorothy said that she was expected to asses and analyse the personal hygiene practices of the community and in turn to conduct awareness and outreach activities for health education purposes.

From her practical, she witnessed first-hand the invaluable benefits of conducting health education programs in the villages.

What benefits have come about from Dorothy’s practical in Inauaia? She smiles and adds that as a direct result of the health education programs that were conducted by her and her colleagues, the Community Led Water and Sanitation (CLWS) initiative was established and implemented.

“We were instrumental in setting up pits and disposal sites to minimise the risk of health related sicknesses caused from poor sanitation. We made a very big change in Inauaia village and proper sanitation practices are now in place”. 

As well as improving sanitation practices, Dorothy said she also practised counselling for mothers who came in for antenatal clinics at the Volunteer Counselling Centre. 

“Counselling becomes very important especially for people living with HIV and as a CHW, the practicals have taught me that we need to encourage them to invest in healthy living and think positively so they can live normally while on their ARD treatment”

So what drives Dorothy to persevere in her determination to do well at school despite the hurdles of financial difficulties? 

Well for many well established and accomplished individuals, the driving force varies from one person to the next.
For Dorothy, it is the fact that there is a lack of proper health services and also a shortage of skilled health professionals who work in SHP. She is determined about improving the delivery of health services in SHP. Her ultimate goal in life is to become a doctor and she is willing to do whatever it takes to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge to help her province. 

For a young woman of 23 years of age Dorothy demonstrates great eagerness and commitment in contributing to the development of PNG in the area of health.

So why did Dorothy take up a certificate in Community Health Work? 

She mentions that in the rural areas “CHW’s can do everything that a registered nurse can do and we also work side by side with the communities. There are not enough nurses and doctors in rural areas and it then becomes the responsibility of the CHW who refers the most serious medical cases to medical practitioners.”

“Community Health Workers are the front-liners and that’s our motto and I wanted to gain a rural perspective of providing health services before embarking on my future career path of becoming a doctor”

What motivates and inspires Dorothy to continue to study despite the financial hardships she has faced. She pauses and then talks about a book titled Gifted Hands. She goes on to explain that the book is about a man named Ben Carson who overcame hurdles and obstacles “to come from nowhere to become someone.”
 

“I was motivated and inspired by this story and thought to myself that if he can do it then I too can make something of my life and be someone.”

In working towards fulfilling her goal of becoming a doctor, Dorothy will now be applying for a PNG Health and Education Scholarship that Scholarships PNG delivers on behalf of AusAID.

As part of the application process, she will also be applying to her chosen partner institution of choice - the Pacific Adventist University, to undertake the Bachelor of Nursing. 

The PNG Health and Education Scholarships are a new range of Australian Scholarships that are available to Papua New Guineans to study in PNG.

Selected partner institutions in PNG have been identified to deliver specific approved study programs in Bachelor of Midwifery, Bachelor and Diploma of Nursing, Certificate in Community Health Work and Bachelor of Education (Secondary).

Individuals committed to the development of the health and education sectors of PNG are strongly encouraged to apply for a PNG Health and Education Scholarship. 

Source: PNG Newage Woman