Tari hospital overcrowded

 By PETER ESOP WARI

THE Tari Hospital in Hela is overcrowded with patients because health centres have been referring minor cases to it, an official said. 

Acting medical superintendent William Hape told The National that nurses and health workers at the health centres and aid posts sent patients without proper referral letters.

The hospital’s intensive care unit and outpatient department is packed to capacity putting a lot of pressure on doctors and nurses who have to attend to minor cases.

He said every health centre and aid post must use facilities available and must stop sending patients to the hospital without proper referral letters.

“For the Wabia health centre, the catchment area is Hulia LLG. 

“Tari Hospital will look after emergency cases plus people from Kikita One, Pai, Nanoanda, Kupari, Hambuali, Piripu, Halonguali, Pi and Tari town,” he said.

Hape said every LLG ward had an aid post or health centre and health workers must 

do their work rather than sending patients to the Tari hospital.

“We are dealing with people’s lives and must be committed to whatever we do. We cannot let them suffer and travel long distances to come to the hospital,” he said.

He said health centres looked after by mission agencies must be handed over to the government if they could not be managed properly.