St John faces funding problem, puts projects on hold

THE St John Ambulance (SJA) has been forced to put some projects on hold so that essential services are maintained, an official says.
But it cannot continue to operate if the Government does not release the rest of its funding, said chief executive officer Matt Cannon.
He said they had received K1 million out of the K3 million budgeted for in June. They are still waiting for the K2 million.
He said the annual operational cost was around K5.3 million, a turnover of around K12 million and K10 million required in recurring funding to meet agreed objectives.
“SJA is the sole public emergency ambulance service that covers the entirety of PNG by air and on the ground. It covers an estimated 1.8 million people,” Cannon said.
“SJA raises 30 per cent of the money needed to operate emergency services through fundraising and commercial services.
“And the provinces it operates in make a contribution to cover the fuel and maintenance.
“A request for K5.3 million to cover part of the operating cost for the national ambulance control centre (111 -24/7 emergency line), an ambulance education school programme and ambulance service in seven provinces.
“There was a further request of K5 million to build ambulance stations in Lae, Alotau, Madang, Kundiawa and Kokopo and an additional standby station for Central.”
He said most were located together with the PNG Fire Service to provide joint response in emergencies.