Madang given K1.7mil

The National Main Stories

By LULU MARK
THE Madang health authority was given K1.7 million for the Coronavirus (Covid-19) response, an official says.
Acting public health director Dr Martin Damien told The National yesterday that the funds received by the authority had been acquitted.
He said the money was used under five cluster programmes of the Covid-19 response, which were;

  • SURVEILLANCE and emergency response;
  • CLINICAL and health care services;
  • INFECTION prevention and control;
  • POINT of entry; and,
  • RISK communication and community engagement.

Dr Damien said the expenditure covered allowances, salaries for casuals/volunteers, stationery, small medical equipment and accessories, transport and fuel support, training and infrastructure maintenance.
“Financial management processes are strictly followed before further funds are released to PHA,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Damien said the province was seeing an increase in the number of Covid-19 cases being registered.
“Our admitted cases have increased to 27,” he said.
“The 12-bed isolation is full and overflowing to the outpatient and emergency department.
“There are 15 more patients awaiting bed spaces.”
Dr Damien said two more deaths were recorded (one yesterday and another on Tuesday) which brought the total number of Covid-19 deaths in this surge to 10 as of yesterday.
He urged the people in Madang to visit the main health facilities in the districts to receive the vaccine as the province did not have the capacity to deal with a big surge.