Hospital upgrade to cost K25mil

THE Guabin District Hospital in Sumkar, Madang is to be gradually upgraded to a level-four hospital, costing K25 million.
Local MP Chris Nangoi told The National that it was to be a continual project in which funding each year would be K1 million over the next 25 years.
“The district development authority has already given the project K1 million from last year’s budget allocation and will fund another K1 million this year once it receives this year’s funding,” Nangoi said.
“We have already bought one scanning machine and will acquire other machines to help equip the hospital.
“We will also be looking at improving incentives for doctors to come and serve in our district.
“Due to law and order issues in Sumkar, the only doctor serving the district will soon be leaving.”
Nangoi said an increase in law and order issues and poor roads in the district were drawbacks to delivering healthcare to people.
“The only doctor we had in the district is from Germany,” he said.
“He provided healthcare services to the people but sadly due to law and order issues he has decided to return home.
“His family have left already and the doctor will soon be leaving as well.”
Nangoi said that despite having more than 27 aid posts in his district, it was challenging for people to access healthcare due to poor roads and lack of transportation.
“We will also be launching a mobile clinic to visit the villages, both on the mainland and out on the coast,” he said.
Nangoi said though it may take time, he wanted to improve the district’s health indicators and ensure that people received good healthcare services.
He said work to restore basic health, education and infrastructure services in the district would slowly continue to take shape over the years.