Major health facilities underway

 HEALTH Secretary Pascoe Kase (pictured) says major health infrastructure development projects are under way in the provinces.

It includes hospitals, health facilities, staff housing, training institutions, hospital redevelopments in Port Moresby, Lae and Mt. Hagen, and rehabilitation of community health and aid posts.

“We are investing in service and planning, rolling out of health service standards and providing technical advice. This allows us to support some members to spend their development budgets in an evidence-based way,” he said.

The Angauhospital redevelopment draft health service plan has been completed and under the independent review.

The construction is expected to start next year and continue to 2017.

He said work on Nonga Hospital’s refurbishment costing K4 million had been completed.

The new site for the hospital is at Wairiki which has been approved by the provincial executive council. 

The Mt Hagen Hospital rehabilitation funds have been released to the Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority to implement redevelopment and project implementation.

He said the Kerema General Hospital construction first phase was 98 per cent complete. 

Development projects are  underwayin Popondetta, Boram, Mendi, Modilon and Kavieng General hospitals.

“We are in the process of finalising co-financing arrangements with the Australian government for the rehabilitation of all community health workers and nursing training schools,” he said.