Robbery forces closure of Vunapope hospital

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The St Mary’s Vunapope hospital in East New Britain was closed for two days this week after five men armed with bush knives and guns held up nursing officers in the female quarters on Saturday and stole some of their possession.
This is the second incident at the hospital this year.
Six of the staff held up have been traumatised and are now undergoing counselling at Nonga General Hospital.
The hospital management decided to close the hospital on Sunday and Monday due to other issues, including harassment of some hospital staff, breaking and entering of staff houses and attack of a hospital ambulance at Raluan village in Kokopo district.
“We cannot continue like this in isolation, people need to take ownership and support us in the delivery of health services,” hospital administrator Albert Seri, told The National.
Dr Felix Diaku, director of medical services, said health service was shut down in general during those two days, but staff still turn up at the hospital to attend to patients and were on stand-by for emergency cases.
Resolutions have been passed during the first incident and have been revised again by the management to review security personnels in the hospital.
The law and order committee have also met with the hospital management to pass some resolutions such as putting up fences around the hospital premises and solar lights.
“Security in the hospital is very important, therefore things such as fencing, lighting, security personnel and CCTV installed in certain areas in the hospital would be helpful,” Dr Diaku said.
Seri acknowledged Police Minister and Gazelle MP Zelta Wong and some business houses in the province for supporting the hospital during the first incident. A total of K13,000 was given to the hospital then. “I hope this is the last incident to happen because if we have another one , it will cause a much bigger problem and the hospital might consider a much longer period of closure which will affect many people seeking health services in the hospital,” Seri said.