Province to have access to improved health services

National

THE people of Jiwaka and neighbouring provinces will have improved access to vital healthcare services following the opening of the expanded Kudjip Hospital.
The K10 million expansion project within the ongoing master plan of improvements at the hospital was funded by the Papua New Guinea-Australia partnership, through the incentive fund, and includes K2 million in counterpart funding.
It has expanded the hospital emergency room, surgical outpatient area and operating theatres, as well as constructed a new obstetrics ward and nursery, pharmacy, laboratory and dental clinic.
A new purpose-built training and administration building will support the training of doctors and nurses.
At the opening ceremony for the expanded hospital, Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis commended the Nazarene health ministries for its dedicated leadership and continued commitment to healthcare, with many senior staff volunteering their time over the years to improve health services in PNG.
“This project will benefit thousands of people each year, especially women and children,” Davis said.
“It also shows the priority of both governments to strengthen Papua New Guinea’s health sector and support improved access and quality in hospitals across the country.”
This is the third incentive fund grant to Kudjip Hospital, totalling almost K23 million since 2006.
This ongoing support has enabled the hospital to gain provincial hospital status and has supported surgical wards, obstetrics and outpatient wards, staff houses, sewerage system and a hydroelectric system which services the hospital, nursing college, primary school and Kudjip station, which are all run by Nazarene health ministries.
This project, along with previous support to Nazarene health ministries, is just one of many examples of the PNG-Australia Partnership’s ongoing dedication to improving access and quality of healthcare in the country.