Leader disappointed by local MPs

By ELIZABETH MIAE
A COMMUNITY leader in Southern Highlands has expressed disappointment that the views of communities in the province were not heard by their MPs during a protest march two weeks ago regarding the frequent harassment of staff and vandalism at the Mendi Hospital.
The leader, who is also a senior health officer, said in a statement that the only representative from the community during the protest was not even given a chance to speak.
The leader, who claimed to represent the views of the communities in the province, is calling on the governor and members of the provincial executive council to recommend to the Health Minister to look into the running of the hospital.
Some of the claims raised by the leader included:
*Total breakdown in coordination and control mechanism from the chief executive officer down to the cleaner;
*Leakage of confidential medical information out to the public allegedly by hospital staff;
*Hospital vehicles are given away to relatives without going on tender;
*Recruitment done from the streets, displacing senior health officers;
*Retrenched officers are placed on wages stopping the unemployed to seek employment; and
*Life saving equipment have not been purchased even though funds were made available by the provincial government and the administration.