Use K55m on improving city health services

IT was indeed very disturbing for me to read the front page of The National newspaper on Feb 10 about the Ela Beach face-lift project.
It hurts those of us who have witnessed patients and their families running around looking for medicine and trying to meet medical expenses.
It’s true that the Ela Beach project looks and sounds very attractive and would beautify, improve and change the entertainment aspect of those flocking to Ela Beach, more so for tourists, visitors etc.
However, as a longtime resident of NCD, seeing, witnessing and experiencing the problems of the city, I do not think spending K55 million on this particular project is worth it. It is a complete waste of people’s (tax payers’) money.
I think that this money should be used to serve the people of NCD and surrounding Papuan villages by improving the ever-deteriorating state of the health services in the city.
I have seen people go around with prescription forms to purchase medicines at private pharmacies because NCD health services does not have the money to purchase medical supplies. Nurses and doctors keep telling the poor patients to buy medicines from private pharmacies.
What does this really tell the authorities at NCDC? There is something wrong in the system and senior management (NCDC) does not see the problems in their own system.
Not only that, there are many settlements and suburbs living in poor conditions, no proper roads, no electricity, no sewerage system, and lacking many other basic services.
Our good governor, as a senior human rights lawyer, you should seriously prioritise on improving the living conditions and services such as health services and other basic services in these settlements and suburbs.
Let me give an example: Last year around November/December, a senior officer from NCD health services was collecting quotations for the medical supplies to stock up for the festive season. Upon submitting the quotations and orders to the Health Department, it was rejected and the officer had nothing but to scale down services and advise patients to purchase medicines from private pharmacies. I assume NCDC was asked to step in but it was also rejected for so many reasons.
My point is, if NCDC saw fit to spend millions of kina in construction works, why can’t they do the same for services from which people will benefit directly like improved health services, improved school facilities, improved settlement conditions etc?
I challenge the authorities concerned to reconsider and put a stop to the Ela Beach face-lift project.
Please stop the project and improve the deteriorating NCD Health Services.

Concerned
NCD