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WORKER at the Port Moresby General Hospital are at risk of infection as they are handling patients with contagious diseases without protective gear.

This, the latest in revelations of the grim situation at PNG’s premier referral hospital, was highlighted to the media this week.
Every time requests are made for protective gear at the hospital’s supply division, they are told there was no money to buy these items.
PNG Nurses Association president Eimi Kaptigau had demanded the hospital management to explain to the public why the hospital was in such a disgraceful state.

Meanwhile the hospital’s chief executive officer, Dr Alphonse Tay admitted the hospital was in crisis but said the problems all boiled down to money.
Dr Tay said the hospital did not generate its own revenue but depended on the monthly disbursements from the Department of Finance.



OPPOSITION Leader Sir Mekere Morauta has blamed the National Government for the state of Port Moresby General Hospital.
He said the National Alliance Party led government had become too obsessed with staying in power and abandoned its fundamental duty to govern.
Turning a blind eye on the sick and those who work in hospitals was the worst form of negligence by the Government, the Opposition Leader said.

“It is criminal negligence. How can the Government sit by and allow the nation’s premier public hospital to deteriorate to a level where medical staff have to beg for donations to keep patients alive?”
Sir Mekere said the Government has been making grand statements about its financial prowess and economic management. It boasted about six supplementary budgets and windfall revenues totaling K6 billion.
“Where has all the money gone.”


AIR Niugini has proposed that an alternative airport should be built in East New Britain province.
The airline suggested to all stakeholders to consider an alternative airport in East New Britain to consider an alternative airport in the province to ensure services continue whenever there is ash fall over Tokua .

Air Niugini said in a statement on Tuesday that since the suspension of flights to Rabaul last Tuesday, they have cancelled 25 flights to Tokua.
An estimated 2,000 passengers had their travel disrupted, the airline reported.



SIR Ebia Olewale, a prominent politician in the pre-independence times died at the Daru Hospital on Tuesday. His body was flown to Port Moresby and is awaiting burial arrangements.
He was born in 1940 at Tureture village in Daru.
He completed his high school education in the village school from 1956 and went on to S0geri Secondary School in the early 1960s and then to Port Moresby Teachers College in 1964.

He started teaching in 1968. In 1968, Sir Ebia was elected to represent the South Fly electorate in the House of Assembly.
Sir Ebia held numerous portfolios including Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister for two terms In a statement Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare said Sir Ebia was part of his first cabinet in 1977 as minister for education.
Sir Michael acknowledged Sir Ebia as a soft-spoken person who served PNG with distinction as his foreign minister and deputy prime minister.



A TASK force team is working on a submission on the Pacific seasonal workers scheme which will enable about 600 Papua New Guineans to be employed in Australia’s agriculture industry.
A senior officer confirmed that the task force met last week to finalise the submissions which will be presented at the first NEC meeting this year.
He said the seasonal workers scheme being a pilot project for three years will need to be planned and cannot be rushed.
PNGSDP chairman Ross Garnaut said Papua New Guinea lost a wise elder statesman and loyal son, who contributed immensely to the success of Independence and constitutional government, and to development.
He said Western province lost a man who loved the province of his birth, knew it intimately, and worked tirelessly to diminish the suffering of its people.
"Papua New Guinea Sustainable Development Limited lost a leader who guided it towards programmes that would help ordinary people in the villages and towns with the things that were essential for a good life. My wife Jayne and I lost a dear friend of 37 years, from whom we learned much about the rich texture of Sir Ebia's beloved country," Mr Garnaut said.

Media Contact: Richard Kelebi, starwave@daltron.com.pg; 6881271, 72557344, 3258301
LACK of adequate logistical support had greatly hampered police mobility during the special operations in Wau. A section of Mobile Squad 13 personnel deployed in Wau during the festive period had their vehicle broken down and forced them to rely on the local police to provide them with vehicle to do their duties. We were left stranded with no proper vehicle to carry out our duties during the festive season and the police hierarchy must look into our plight and provide us with proper logistical support," a police spokesman said.