54th PNG Mediical Symposium at DWU

Its the second day for me attending the 54th PNG Medical Symposium hosted here at DWU Madang. Its becoming obvious to me that there are so many Papua New Guineans in the PNG health system who are champions of positive change. There are curious researchers, effective clinical implementers and people who just want the best for this country.

 

 

 

For example, Im just sitting here listening in awe to a presentation by Dr. Livingston Tavul and his colleagues at PNG Institute of Medical Research on their research on Lymphatic Filiarisis (commonly known as elephantiasis). Their research work in 24 villages in Bogia District lead to World Health Organisation (WHO) changing its guidelines on treating this disease using mass drug administration.

According to WHO, 856 million people in 52 countries worldwide remain threatened by lymphatic filariasis and require preventive chemotherapy to stop the spread of this parasitic infection. In PNG alone there are estimated to be between 2-4 million people at risk becasue they live in the 'endemic' areas of the country.

This research by PNGIMR (in local and international partnerships with 9 organisations including NDOH, Provincial health and Bogia District Administration) in Bogia District provides the evidence for WHO and its member countries to treat this disease using mass drug administration outside of sub-Saharan countries.

This a is story about research in this country changing the world and at the same time getting rid of this dreadful disease that continues to cause shame, disability and death in PNG communities.

 

 

Online exams..

Finally the semester exams are here.
One of the features of the online life here on campus is the online examinations done on campus. The whole exam is prepared in advance a few weeks before today.
An exam for a particular unit is already stated in the Program Specification Document. All programs qualifications in the university are set out in the Program Specification Document. The document is available to stakeholders who wish to see see the university's programs.
The unit lecturers prepares the unit outline and gives the students a copy. The lecturer develops the exam paper, collecting items that have been taught during the semester and formulates questions types such as Multiple Choice, True/False, Short Answers and Essays. A few weeks before the exam is done, a vetting process begins. 

 During the vetting process carried out in each department, all department lecturers put up their whole exam and other lecturers critique the questions and answers. This is a quality assurance process that aims to maintain the quality and standard of the examination process.
Once the vetting process is complete at the department level, the examination papers go the Faculty's Curriculum and Assessment Committtee who then go through the exams once more. Once exam paper is approved, the lecturer can now upload the exam on Moodle.
During the exam period, a staff from the ICT Department will be present in the room. The ICT officer is to be present to make sure students have adequate access to the online connection. There is also another officer from the Learning and Teaching Department who is present to make sure the online learning management system - Moodle is operating smoothly. It definitely takes a team to ensure this online exams are done!

I have been involved in the process of delivering exams online here and I can honestly say that it takes a special team of committed academics, administrative and ancillary staff to make online exams at DWU a success each year. It also shows that strong leadership is paramount to effective learning. God bless DWU!

Our first visit after....

Its been a while since we last went to see you, I think its our first since you were rested. Its been hard on us all. Im glad that we came to see you.

Andrew Tabel got a small brown bus and we drove with the gang to Alexafhen. He was the driver and Beno was with us too and we all went together.