Official: Flooding an old issue

By MICHELLE AUAMOROMORO
FLOODING of wards at the Modilon General Hospital in Madang is not a new issue, an official says.
Acting chief executive officer of the Madang health authority (PHA) Paul Mabong told The National that the hospital was in need of maintenance. “Even the previous management had neglected it,” he said.
Former Madang MP Sir Peter Barter was not happy with the PHA for purchasing seven new vehicles when there was so much maintenance required at the hospital.
Sir Peter said flooding of the special care nursery and low birth-weight wards caused by the downpour on May 5, was due ignorance of maintenance work required at the hospital.
Sir Peter told The National that he was disgusted and could not believe in such extravagance (purchasing of new vehicles) at a time when there were so many urgent needs.
“But saying this, this has become a normal occurrence,” Sir Peter said.
“I am further surprised that these vehicles have private number plates which appears that they are intended to become private vehicles for staff of PHA,” he said.
Mabong said the plan to purchase new vehicles for the hospital was made last year.
He said it was a vital decision as new vehicles were needed to assist with attending to health issues in districts outside Madang town.