ANGAU Memorial Provincial Hospital

Doctors strained

Staff shortage, temporary positions and unpaid gratuity are just some of their concerns that have fallen on deaf ears.

A media briefing was held at the ANGAU chapel on Thursday morning, where the National Doctors Association – Morobe president, Dr Barry Mutan, said they have submitted nine petitions already regarding the issue of manpower shortage.

Cause of death queried

The Morobe Provincial Health Authority CEO, Dr Kipas Binga, gave this response after he was asked about the procedure used to identify COVID-19 deaths.

Citizens are still skeptical with the methods used to identify a death as COVID-19 related.

Many have voiced concern that though their loved ones passed away from other medical conditions, the cause of death was listed as COVID-19.

Dr Binga was asked to clarify the matter during a media conference in Lae on Monday afternoon following concerns that a death from Butibam was wrongly identified as COVID-19.

Doctors infected

Nineteen of the 26 were nurses.

This was the figure provided in Saturday’s progressive COVID-19 update for Morobe.

Apart from the health workers, four support staff also contracted the virus.

It was reported that 156 cases were detected within the province in a 20-day period. This includes the nine cases that were detected at Mungkip village, Nawaeb district, where eight have been cleared.

ANGAU staff frustrated with lack of leadership

Staff at the Obstetrics and Gynaecology department forced the director of medical services, Dr Lincoln Menda, to listen to their grievances today at the hospital chapel.

Staff are concerned about their welfare, saying there is a lack of leadership and communication.

The Emergency Department was the first to close its doors after a member contracted COVID-19. To date, they have four infected staff and have received no proper response from the management on how they should operate or who to coordinate with.

Staff infected, ANGAU partially closes

As of Tuesday, March 16th, 22 health workers have contracted the virus.

A circular from the Morobe Provincial Health Authority said services have scaled down as of Friday March 12th, particularly the Emergency Department and the Gware Wing.

“This will allow the hospital to clear these sites for re-use and clear the staff to resume duties,” said the chief executive officer, Dr Kipas Binga.

All outpatient treatments will be done at the urban clinics while only emergencies will be attended to at the ANGAU Emergency Department.