THE Popondetta General Hospital is preparing for an influx of patients as the injured and sick from the flood-ravaged areas are being brought in.
But the hospital may not have the capacity, and is recalling staff who are on leave back to work.
Hospital’s chief executive officer Sem Vegogo said yesterday there was now a barge full of supplies on its way to Popondetta from Lae, Morobe province.
“The supplies had been organised by the Lutheran Health Service through the Morobe Provincial Disaster Committee,” he said.
“The barge will arrive in Gona by tonight (last night) and we will organise the supplies to be distributed to the 17 rural health centres in the province.
“These centres have no anti-biotic to treat about 140,000 affected people in these rural areas.”
Mr Vegogo said his staff were now preparing for emergency situations and the increasing number of people affected by the floods.
“More patients will be brought to the hospital once the helicopters and barges go to the affected areas to deliver the supplies,” he said.
“However, we are now recalling all health staff who are on recreational leave as well as retrenched staff to come forward and help us when patients affected by the flood come in.”