Long-standing issues that have been affecting the Laloki Psychiatric Hospital will soon be a thing of the past with the appointment of a new acting chief executive officer.
Health and HIV/AIDS Minister, Elias Kapavore, gave the assurance during a surprise visit to Laloki on Monday.
Kapavore, with Sir John Cardinal Ribat, who is also the chairman of the Mental Health Board, paid the staff of Laloki Psychiatric Hospital a surprise visit on the 29th of July, where he announced their new acting CEO in Dr Losavati Daugunu.
He said the Government is serious about improving PNG’s health and social indicators, hence the appointment of a new caretaker in response to a petition submitted to his office weeks ago regarding the performance of the hospital’s management.
This new appointment will also check off a box in the Mental Health Act of 2015, which the Minister believes is not fully implemented.
“The Government of Marape-Steven is serious about improvement. And when it comes to performance and how we want to relate to the statement that is made by the Prime Minister in taking back our country and making it the best in the region, we need to come back to ourselves; reassess our facilities, our performance and make sure that we are doing what is right today,” stated the Minister.
Minister Kapavore said in an effort to restore confidence in PNG’s only mental institution, they want to make sure that a management that is focused on service delivery is put in place.
“2014 we had an acting CEO in place. And we allowed ourselves to be in this particular dilemma for some time. And I believe it is time for us to make a change now.
“Dr Losavati, from our end, we know, we trust that you will continue to do the job that is required of you. And we believe that you’ll do a better job.”
(From left: Health and HIV/AIDS Minister, Elias Kapavore and new acting CEO, Dr Losavati Daugunu)