Infrastructure at the Hela Provincial Hospital has greatly improved with Oil Search’s continued support to build new hospital wards and undertake much needed maintenance to water, electricity and hospital sanitation.
The hospital board, during its fifth meeting on May 30 in Tari, expressed great satisfaction at the progress being made since the departure of Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) in March this year.
“I am absolutely delighted with what has been achieved in a very short period of time,” said chair of the board, Peter Botten.
There was a seamless transition from MSF to Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO) doctors and nurses and for the first time in many years, the entire hospital is receiving much-needed attention.
The hospital now operates under one system by integrating all former duplicate systems such as pharmacy, outpatients ward, surgery and outreach services.
This achievement would not have been possible without the dedicated work from many people, including the new hospital CEO Dr Hewali Hamiya, his staff, the Oil Search Foundation, the National Department of Health, the National Department of Personnel Management and donors such as the Australian Government.
This public-private partnership enables continued cooperation to strengthen the delivery of effective and accountable hospital services in Hela, consistent with the national health sector partnership policy.
However, Botten warned that the hospital was still at the very beginning stages of providing services at the level the people of Hela deserve.
After years of neglect, many fundamental systems are broken that will take time to fix. There are critical staff shortages and attracting staff to work in Hela is a major challenge.
“We have achieved a lot but we cannot rest on these achievements,” Botten said. “There is still an enormous way to go to ensure sustainable and quality services are delivered.”
The board aims to urgently finalise recruitment of 182 staff for the hospital, which until last month had no permanent staff due to it being established as a provincial hospital with a new staffing establishment.
The hospital quickly recruited an executive team with Dr Hewali Hamiya as CEO, Freda Lawe as the new director of nursing services (previously director of nursing services with ANGAU Hospital), and Elizabeth Boyd as incoming director of corporate services (formally a senior manager with Telikom). It is still in the process of recruiting a director of medical services.
“We are working hard to fill many vacant positions, especially medical professionals,” said Dr Hamiya. “We will continue to improve accommodation, and ensure there is a good working environment for our staff with training and career development opportunities.
“My key message to anyone thinking of applying for a job at our hospital is come and see your career flourish. We are dedicated to being the best and with support from the board and key partners such as Oil Search, we will achieve this goal.”
The hospital board will also focus on putting strong governance systems in place for clinical standards, human resources and financial management. Emphasising the board’s focus on good financial management, Botten said he will personally ensure every toea spent has an accountable link to patient outcomes.
“Running a good hospital is not just about doctors and nurses,” Botten said. “It’s first and foremost about effective governance, strong leadership and management, and of course functional systems.
“I am confident that we are well underway to becoming one of PNG’s best hospitals within three to five years. Our board is committed, our executive team is qualified and our staff is passionate. This is the recipe for success.”
Oil Search will continue to provide technical assistance for financial management until strong and effective systems are built and operating sustainably.
(Some Members of the Hela Provincial Hospital Authority board with hospital staff on the day the MSF departed Hela. Picture: Oil Search Ltd)