MP vows to upgrade Buin health centre

SOUTH Bougainville MP Timothy Masiu has assured health workers at Buin health centre that he is determined to ensure it is upgraded to hospital status and staffed with specialist doctors.
He told senior staff and nurses at the health centre that he had been approaching aid donors and development partners since becoming a member of parliament, but had no feedback.
Masiu said he would continue working to source funding and government support.
He made the undertaking in the presence of executive manager of public health, Dr Daoni Esorom, who also told the gathering that all districts needed to have hospitals.
Masiu also expressed concerns over the high incidences of deaths during emergency evacuations to the hospital in Arawa or Buka.
But, he said this would be addressed with the introduction of air evacuation services provided by Manolos Aviation following the signing of an agreement between the company and the South Bougainville district development authority.
Masiu said emergency cases would now be flown by helicopter to Buka.