Hospital petitions govt

 THE Nonga General Hospital will present a submission to the government to compensate hospital staff for the hardship they endured after the twin volcanic eruptions.

Chief executive officer Dr Ako Yap revealed this last week during the swearing in of the hospital board.

He was supposed to present the submission to the health minister and secretary but they had to attend a meeting elsewhere.

He appealed to political leaders to take the matter to parliament.

Health department officers who were present in Rabaul for the occasion were made aware of the submission and that the would take it up with the health minister.

“Many times we employers demand output from our staff but we need to cater for their needs so their morale is boosted to perform,” Yap said. “It’s not a one way thing, you must give and take.”

Yap said staff had to travel long distances to get to work, thus spending too much on travel expenses and working in an atmosphere polluted by dust and ash fall.

“Sometimes I am amazed. They are an amazing group of people and I am proud to be their boss.”

Yap said the hospital received an annual budget recurrent allocation from the national government.

“That is the only money we rely on. 

“Nonga hospital is in ENB which currently has no provincial hospital. 

“Up to now we do not get funding from the provincial government,” Yap said.

“That is a shame. 

“If you cannot give us budget allocations then help us with logistics and other donations.”