Marat urges govt to be careful in spending donated funds

DEPUTY Opposition Leader Dr Allan Marat is urging the Government to be wise in its spending now that the United States has withdrawn funding the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Marat stressed that the Government should be careful in terms of using donated funds.
WHO funds many health programmes in PNG but was last week told by President Donald Trump of the withdrawal of its annual US$500million (K1.7bil) funding because he was not happy with the organisation. It was the biggest contributor to WHO funding.
Marat said: “Economic implications in our healthcare system – shortage of PPEs, medical kits, testing kits and healthcare in general.
“WHO uses funding it receives to carry out programmes, including polio eradication, health and nutrition services, vaccine preventable diseases, tuberculosis, HIV and prevention and controlling outbreaks. We as a country also receive funding from WHO.”
Marat also raised concerns on approvals given allegedly by Health Minister Jelta Wong during the SOE period. Marat said in an alleged WhatsApp message, it was claimed that Wong had allowed a foreign national to enter the country from Brisbane without proper authorisation from the controller.
He also claimed that the health minister had given approval to the Royal Port Moresby Golf Club to operate during the SOE.
Marat said: “Who is the controller? I want both the health minister and controller to explain to the public where in the emergency laws and regulations does the health minister have the discretion to usurp the powers and authority of the controller.”
An attempt was made late yesterday to seek comment from Wong, however he was in a NEC meeting.