Province to get specialist hospital

 THE Nonga General Hospital in East New Britain will retain its status while a new specialist referral hospital will be built at another location, Health Secretary Pascoe Kase says.

He said that during the launching of the renovated facilities and two new buses yesterday at the hospital.

“For the past 20 years since Nonga was destroyed by the volcanic eruption, we have been playing politics with its status,” he said.

“We are not going to play around anymore and will maintain this facility while we build a new referral hospital.”

He said the Health Department had already procured equipment costing K2.6 million for Nonga.

Kase said a proposal by Nonga hospital chief executive officer Dr Ako Yap for staff housing had been approved. More than K2 million will be allocated for this project.

The State will move to Wairiki in the Gazelle district to build the new referral hospital.

“The health minister has given his full support and we are preparing a submission paper to parliament for things to start moving at Wairiki.”

Kase commended the provincial government for purchasing the land with the title already available.