Uproar in Kimbe
By PILA WASU
KIMBE town in West New Britain province came to a standstill yesterday as staff of the Kimbe General Hospital and other health workers took to the main streets to protest the attack of a nursing sister.
The health workers, armed with banners, started the protest march at the hospital gates and paraded through the main San Remo Street to Kimbe town to present a petition to the provincial government.
Some public servants and town-goers joined in to support the health workers.
The hospital’s outpatient was closed on Tuesday and yesterday morning, with only a skeleton staff attending to the four wards including the accident and emergency ward.
Patients turning up for treatment at the outpatient were turned away on Tuesday and yesterday morning.
A staff member, who did not want to be named, told The National that they had agreed to withdraw the frontline staff if their demands were not met.
However, CEO of Kimbe General Hospital Mark Maludu has advised his staff to continue serving the people, while the relevant authorities deal with their petition.
The hospital staff demanded among other things that three men involved in the attack on the nurse be arrested and charged, and that police escort be provided to hospital staff during pick-up and drop-off.
They also demanded that the provincial and national governments provide accommodation within the hospital vicinity to minimise risk of staff travelling in and out.
The petition was presented to deputy governor and member for Kandrian Gloucester Tony Puana and deputy provincial administrator Williamson Hosea.
Mr Puana accepted the petition and condemned the attack on the nurse.
He appealed to the community at Section 10 to assist police bring the suspects to justice.
Provincial police commander Chief Insp Richard Molou said the nursing sister was attacked on Monday night outside the gate of her residence after she was dropped off by an ambulance.
He said three criminals tried to stab her on her chest but during the struggle she received knife wounds to her left arm. She has been admitted to hospital.
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