Buka Hospital closed after armed hijacking of boat

THE Buka Hospital has temporarily closed the outpatient and emergency section due to hijacking of its boat by six gunmen yesterday.
Buka hospital outpatient department and any major operation will remain closed for one week.
Chief executive officer for the hospital Dr Banabas Matanu said this was the sixth hijacking and the hospital could not continue to operate under
these conditions.
He appealed to the Government to assist the hospital with security for the staff during these times.
“We must take the stand as the majority of nurses and doctors reside on Sohano Island and the hijacking of the boat will make it difficult for hospital staff to move to and from area of work,” Dr Matanu said.
Members of the National Doctors Association and the Nurses Association backed the decision to close the hospital.
Dr Matanu warned that if the boat was not returned, the whole hospital will be closed indefinitely.
The public has been asked to utilise the village clinics.