This is an edited summary of The Waiting Hut Inc. Entity Profile. The full entity profile is available here

The Waiting Hut Inc. (TWHI) is a local community-based organisation in the Eastern Highlands of PNG that works with local provincial health authorities to support rural community health facilities to increase supervised births, antenatal coverage and uptake of modern contraceptive methods.

In order to meet their goals, TWHI:

• Acquires materials for temporary accommodations at rural health centres
• Secures funding for maternal and child health outreach programs for ongoing service delivery
• Improves and maintains antenatal clinics and delivery facilities in rural areas
• Installs medical equipment, solar lighting, and ensure essential supplies
• Conducts training for health workers on antenatal care, family planning and safe delivery practices
• Establishes partnerships with local leaders and NGOs to provide maternal health services in conflict-affected areas
• Conducts awareness campaigns to increase antenatal care and contraceptive uptake in conflict-affected areas
• Establishes a monitoring and evaluation (M&E) system to track program performance and assess impact
• Conducts training for staff on organisational management, resource mobilisation and program sustainability
• Strengthens internal monitoring and evaluation systems to support data-driven decisions and program adaptation

TWHI’s key values underpin their actions and decisions to support community health in the Eastern Highlands:

1. Compassion: TWHI deeply empathises with rural women and their families, understanding and addressing their unique challenges with kindness and understanding.
2. Respect: Every individual, regardless of background or circumstances, is treated with respect and dignity, fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued.
3. Collaboration: TWHI believes sustainable change can only be achieved through working together. TWHI actively seeks partnerships with local health authorities, stakeholders and community members to provide comprehensive support.
4. Integrity: TWHI upholds high ethical standards, ensuring transparency, honesty and accountability in our operations to responsibly utilise resources and funds.
5. Empowerment: TWHI empowers individuals and communities to take control of their own health and well-being by providing information, education and training.
6. Advocacy: TWHI raises awareness about maternal and child health issues and advocate for the rights and needs of rural women and their families, influencing policies and practices for positive change.
7. Excellence: TWHI is dedicated to delivering high-quality, evidence-based services. TWHI continuously evaluates the programs to ensure effectiveness, efficiency and responsiveness to community needs.

BENEFITS OF THE TEMPORARY SHELTERS OR THE WAITING HUTS

The temporary shelters, supported by TWHI, offer numerous benefits to rural women and families in the Eastern Highlands of PNG:

• Accessibility to antenatal services: Rural women can stay closer to rural health facilities, reducing the long and challenging journey. Living in these temporary accommodations for a few days, up to three months, allows them to access regular antenatal care during the crucial last trimester of pregnancy.
• Safety and protection: Waiting huts provide a safe environment for women and their families, protecting them from rough terrains, tribal conflicts and substance abuse issues they may encounter during their journey or in their communities.
• Postnatal support and care: After childbirth, waiting huts offer a space for women to recover and receive postnatal care. It ensures mothers can rest and newborns receive their first immunisations, promoting health and well-being.
• Access to family planning services: Waiting huts provide an opportunity for couples to access modern contraception before returning to their villages. This empowers individuals to make informed reproductive health decisions and plan their families.
• Skill development and economic empowerment: Women can acquire new skills, particularly in cooking nutritious meals, improving family health and nutrition. Selling prepared meals also creates income generation opportunities, contributing to economic empowerment.
• Information dissemination and awareness raising: Waiting huts, equipped with solar-powered lights, serve as platforms for sharing vital healthcare, family planning and nutrition information. This empowers rural women with knowledge that positively impacts their lives and communities.

Through access to these waiting huts and the support of The Waiting Hut Inc., rural women and their families will have improved overall health, wellbeing and further empowerment in rural communities.

More information and updates on TWHI’s events can be found on their Facebook page here