Minister pledges to help Nazarene Hospital

Minister for National Planning and Monitoring, Richard Maru, has promised to assist Nazarene Hospital in Jiwaka Province become a fully-fledged Level Five Hospital.

Despite the hospital being promoted to a provincial hospital status recently, there still remains infrastructural and personnel issues to address.

Maru visited the hospital on Sunday and gave his assurance.

The Minister made a surprise stopover at the Nazarene Hospital at Kudjip as part of his visit to Jiwaka Province.

Greeted by medical missionaries, Maru was given a tour of the facilities.

It was there the medical team informed him of their concerns.

These include facility upgrades and staff housing.

“There’s a lot more that goes into actually increasing the level  of service for a hospital and so were very glad that the Minister for National Planning took time out when he was in Jiwaka Province to actually see what we are going to need to make this a reality,” said Dr. Scott Dooley.

The Nazarene Hospital has twice received support through the Australian Incentive Fund Program and a third tranche of funding is on the cards.

Maru thanked the Australian Government for their support and informed the medical team that it was time the Government played its part.

“I’m really keen on getting a report on what the gaps will be to bring you to a level five. I’m talking buildings, staff housing, equipment, so  that I can discuss that with the Health Minister and provide some funding in the budget from next year onwards to bring this hospital  to a level five hospital,” said Maru.

Currently Jiwaka does not have a Provincial Health Authority, and Maru has urged them to have one established quickly so that funding will be channelled through the body to support health services in the Province.

Author: 
Cedric Patjole