WHPHA opened wellness clinic to address lifestyle disease

The opening of the new wellness clinic for the general public in Western Highlands marks the beginning of a strategic step the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority [WHPHA] is taking to address ongoing lifestyle diseases.

Research and studies have confirmed that most people today are either dying or living with lifestyle diseases, the majority of those living with lifestyle diseases receive regular treatment while a handful ignore treatment or do not know their status at all.

This clinic will reach out to those, especially in their late 30s and 40 years of age living with lifestyle diseases to go for check-ups and get treated right away.

Chairman of WHPHA Board Sam Koim said this is a very important initiative that will help the people know their health status and begin to look after themselves.

“Better to build a fence at the edge of the cliff than to build an expensive hospital at the foot of the cliff,” Koim said.

The wellness clinic will start seeing patients by the end of this month with a trained community health worker, two nursing officers and a health extension officer.

Patients from the Wellness Clinic will again be referred to see specialized medical doctors if need be.

The management of the hospital is urging the general public to prioritize their health and make time available to go there for medical checkups.