Mt Hagen short of doctors, says director

By JAMES APA GUMUNO
WESTERN Highlanders are urged to avoid unnecessary injuries and illness during this festive season because the hospital is short of doctors.
Dr Michael Dokup, the director medical service of Mt Hagen general hospital said in a media statement yesterday that the hospital was without the service of seven doctors.
He said this after learning from past experiences where many fatal road accidents normally occurred in the province during the festive season caused by careless drivers who were under the influence of alcohol.
Dokup said that out of the seven doctors, some were on recreational leave while others were being transferred out during this festive season.
He said that during their absence the current medical officers were being mobilised to continue provision of services in each clinical unit.
He said that their transfers had left the hospital with only two doctors per clinical unit until end of next month when their normal medical officers manpower would return to normal.
Dokup urged the people in the province to take extreme care to avoid unnecessary injuries and illness but advised them to enjoy the festive season in comfort and safety.
He said this was to avoid inconveniences to both the hospital staff and the public because from past experience hospital staff were attacked by relatives of the injured or very sick alleging that staff did not attend to the patients quickly.