Nurses call for adequate support

By LULU MARK
NURSES in Port Moresby are disappointed they have not been given necessary support to help them work in response to the coronavirus pandemic emergency, the nurses’ association says.
PNG Nurses Association president Frederick Kebai told The National yesterday that the nurses from the Port Moresby General Hospital, National Capital District Health Authority and Laloki Public Psychiatric Hospital had raised the concern. Kebai said the nurses were concerned that in such an emergency situation, there was no proper training done in terms of management of Covid-19 and how to effectively carry out awareness on it in communities.
In addition to that, he said the nurses were concerned about the lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) at their respective health facilities which would protect them in the event they came into contact with Covid-19
He said nurses were the frontline workers in the health service delivery and in an emergency situation like the current one that involved a highly-contagious infection, it was crucial that the PPEs were available for use.
“Nurses’ risk allowance and their travel allowances, if they have to travel, including their insurance are some of the things that need to be sorted,” Kebai said.
“Funding must be made readily available.
“The nurses have no training, no PPE and their life is at risk.”
Kebai said these things were supposed to be there even before the state of emergency and the 14-day lockdown began.
He added that as far as the 14-day lockdown was concerned, the nurses had not received clear directions in document form from the Health Department, Department of Personnel Management and the health facility management on how their operation would be carried out.
He said the nurses were in the dark, hence they were requesting for those in authority to ensure that their health and safety were considered and not treated lightly.
The nurses were calling on the Government to build an isolation facility away from the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Government closes highways

By CLARISSA MOI
THE four major highway routes from Central to Port Moresby are being closed during the 14-day lockdown period, Central Governor Robert Agarobe says.
While highlighting the preparation plans for the province yesterday, Agarobe said the government’s role was to protect the interest of its people.
“Our role as the government is to protect the interest of the people and that means we must do what is right for our people regardless of the economic hardships that will come with it,” he said.
“We will block all four roads leading into the city and police will be on the road with our team to make sure no vehicles or PMVs (public motor vehicle) will come into the city.”