Kundiawa GH needs more staff

KUNDIAWA General Hospital chief surgeon Dr Ian Jaworski says the population has doubled in the last 20 years but hospital manpower has remained the same.
“Staff shortage is a major problem because we are getting referrals from minor to major cases daily from other provinces,” he said.
PNG Sustainable Development Program (PNGSDP) director Dr Bob Danaya promised to advice Health Minister Sasa Zibe to give priority to the critical needs of the hospital.
“The Government must treat hospitals differently because they are dealing with lives. If doctors and nurses are needed, they should be made available immediately, likewise if resources are needed, they must also be made available,” he said.
Hospital board chairman Gerald Philips said: “We are doing all we can to keep the hospital going. Last year, we ended up with only K500,000 in the bank.
“An increase to K2 million this year will enable us to properly manage the hospital. We are constantly cautious with our spending to ensure the hospital is not running short.”
They spoke at a K200,000 presentation to the hospital by Kundiawa-Gembogl MP Joe Mek Teine for staff accommodation.
Dr Danaya said: “I will talk to PNGSDP chief executive officer David Sode to get work on staff accommodation started this year.
“We will get to build the accommodation for doctors and nurses.”
Doctors and nurses complained to Dr Danaya that the acute shortage of accommodation had forced most of them to live in settlements and villages.
Dr Danaya was in Kundiawa last Friday for the launching of a K9 million district services improvement programme (DSIP) for Kundiawa-Gembogl district.
Mr Teine also donated a new ambulance to the hospital from his DSIP.