Salamaua health centre shut for third time

 By JEROME IKUAVI

SALAMAUA health centre has been closed for the third time in the past 12 months because of vandalism by locals.

District administrator for Huon Gulf, Tony said yesterday that the closure was indefinite.

The centre’s aid post supervisor Clement Kumaru said locals did not have respect for the health staff and the property, and its yard had become a battle field for drunks, some of whom are community school children.

He said that the locals would assault, threaten and demand to get medical attention. 

On some occasions young men would go into the health centre and threaten the staff with bush knives to get treatment.

Kumaru said a sub-police station in Salamaua would help reduce the continuous law and order problems.

“The locals must also understand our situation because we are short of staff and after a long hour of attending to patients, we find ourselves exhausted,” a nursing staff said.

She also said that the environment was not safe to work, however, they did their best.

The health centre and staff houses have no electricity and water supply.

And the source of a water supply is being used by locals to wash, making it dirty and unsafe to use.