Enga’s Paiam Hospital to resume operations

THE Paiam Hospital in Porgera is set to reopen following a recent visit and announcement by acting chief executive officer of the Enga health authority (PHA), Dr Elvis Japhlet.
The hospital had been shut down about eight months ago following the onslaught of tribal fights in the Porgera valley that had threatened the safety of hospital workers and the smooth operations of the hospital.
Dr Japhlet and a team from the PHA visited Porgera on March 2 accompanied by Paiam Hospital medical superintendent Dr Jerry Hoga and representatives from the United Nations. Addressing the public at Porgera station last Thursday, Dr Japhlet said the hospital will be reopened after completion of general maintenance and cleaning up of the hospital facilities, including staff houses.
While, thanking the local communities for looking after the asset, he also cautioned that if the tribal conflicts reoccurred and the hospital properties were damaged or destroyed, it would be shut down permanently.
“The onus is on the surrounding community for the hospital to run,” he said.
“I am announcing that we will open the hospital, but if you cause issues again and damage the hospital, I will close it for good.
“So the responsibility for the hospital to function is on you.”
The anticipated hospital reopening was part of ongoing restoration efforts that had been undertaken by volunteer group, Porgera law and oder crisis management committee to bring back normalcy into Porgera in the aftermath of the tribal conflicts.
Last month, the Porgera urban clinic and schools resumed operations while Bank South Pacific Financial Group Ltd opened a branch at Paiam.