Where are you from and what was it like growing up there?

I come from a beautiful village called Lalaura in Central Province. I grew up in a natural environment in a coherent community. I had a happy childhood growing up with children who were related to me in one way or the other. There was no TV, telephones etc. so we played a lot, swam a lot and helped our parents gardening and doing household chores. We did everything together as children, including washing dirty pots on the beach.

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What were your dreams as a young girl growing up?

I guess like any girl in the village just going to school and following the crowd. My father had dreams of me becoming a pilot but I was scared of heights and decided to do anything else. I thought about banking at a young age.

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What were your mother and fathers best life lessons that they taught you and you still carry to this day?

We grew up with a father who was a pastor and at the same time managing the village cooperative store. I think he was trusted and hard worker. As children in the family we had a roster to work in this shop. My mother was a simple village woman who ensured there was food in the house. As a family we made copra to pay for school fees and anything else we needed for school. So basically I learnt to work hard from my parents as a child and nothing came easy, and worshipped God. I appreciate my parents for what I am today.

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What is your most treasured possession?

My educational qualifications and experiences in life. And as a mother my 2 children.

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What is your proudest moment in your career?

Being recognized by the Westpac Outstanding Women (WOW) award for the public sector in 2015.

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Who are you inspiration?

My parents and my older sister Esther Lavu who I followed all the way from Sogeri National High School to University because I did not know what I was doing then.

  

What are your current roles in Health?

Currently I am the Director/Manager of Central Public Health Laboratory (CPHL), where quality of diagnosis of malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and vaccine preventable disease such as measles and rubella are monitored in Papua New Guinea and diagnosis performed for patients in Port Moresby General Hospital and health facilities in the National Capital District. 

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What do you think is the most pressing issue for women’s health from your own community in Lalaura?

Lalaura people are naturally very clean in terms of the food they eat, water they drink when it is raining and keeping their environments clean. Since early 2000 I have been providing basic medical service in the village over Christmas and new year periods. In 2016 myself with a group of educated women in Port Moresby started Vewala’ava Health Screening Program initially providing PAP smear service to the village women, which cannot be done in the village or nearby health centres. This is funded by this group of women and few Lalaura young men. There is a clinic in the village but we need a CHW to work there to provide daily services. I feel we need to train a local young lady (grade 10) to take up the task of providing basic medical service, including performing PAP smears etc. for the women in this clinic to avoid them travelling to Port Moresby.

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 What do you think is the biggest health threat to PNG?

Our health systems including human resource and funding are generally inadequate and the control of public health diseases of concern such as malaria, TB and HIV will be challenging. The control of disease outbreaks, drug resistance and emerging and re-emerging infections will be a nightmare.

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What do you find most rewarding at work? 

Health workers working as efficient teams in achieving our objectives of ensuring that patients get timely and accurate diagnosis and treatment for whatever condition they might have.

  

What is your hope for PNG health is the future?

Adequate funding and support from the government to provide efficient services to patients and clients that seek health services at all levels of governance. Most importantly promote healthy living and primary health care so communities become responsible for their health.