Covid-19, funding slow hospital project

THE impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and delay in funding contributed to the delay in the Angau Memorial Hospital redevelopment project, an official says.
Chief executive officer Dr Duncan Dobunaba said only 25 percent of the work had been completed so far.
He said the project was supposed to be co-funded by the governments of Australia and Papua New Guinea.
“At the moment our government has not yet given in its share for the project resulting in it being readjusted to fit the amount of money available for work.
“That also dragged the construction phase behind,” Dobunaba said.
He said nearly all buildings had materials containing asbestos which were harmful.
Dobunaba said so far the laundry, kitchen and tuberculosis ward had been completed.
“The beds in the TB ward could not cater for the number of patients we have at the moment.
“Some are still using the old TB ward.”
He said the delay in Government funding was hindering work in other wards.
Australia’s funding catered for important areas such as the laboratory, X-ray and operating theatre” Dobunaba said.