Church stops services as funds dry up

THE Catholic Church has closed down its health services in Chimbu because of funding constraints.
The church operates six health centres and one rural hospital.
Nursing services director Eillen Alalo and hospital administrator Erikeve Klae put out a public notice on Dec 14 at the Mingende rural hospital informing the people about the closure of operations.
The notice stated that due to insufficient funds given to the Church-run health services by the government, their operations cannot continue.
They will attend to only emergency cases such as deliveries for women. But that will cease too this month if no funding comes.
Councillor Gabriel Kuglame, from Mingende where the Saint Joseph Rural Hospital is located in the Kerowagi, has called on the six MPs and the provincial government to fund the health services.
He said the church provided vital interventions where government services did not exist.