Flooding forces Gerehu hospital to close and turn patients away

By REBECCA KUKU
Gerehu Hospital in Port Moresby closed its doors yesterday and turned patients away because of flooding.
Health Secretary Pascoe Kase called on the management to clean the hospital quickly so patients could return.
He said this following complaints by members of the public who could not access health services at the clinic because of flooding caused by heavy rain throughout the city.
Kase said management must use its best judgment and get services back on track as soon as possible, as many people depended on the clinic for health services.
“I also call on other urban clinics in the city to open their doors and provide services to patients from the affected clinics,” he said.
“For emergency cases, please go straight to the Port Moresby General Hospital.”
Kase also clarified that for emergency cases, there was no need for a referral to be made.
“If you feel that the case is an emergency one, just take them to the emergency at Port Moresby General Hospital,” he said.
“There is no need for you to take the patient to a nearby clinic and then wait for a referral.”
Gordon Urban Clinic was also affected by the rain and flooding.