Dr Gunzee Gawin

​Heart Dr positively impacts Hela children

Paediatric Cardiologist Dr Cornelia Kilalang accepted the invitation to review children with suspected heart problems and other sicknesses earlier this month. Her trip was made possible by the Oil Search Foundation (OSF), working closely with the Hela Provincial Health Authority (HPHA) and other partners.

Dr Gawin is new Hela Provincial Health Authority CEO

Dr Gawin arrived in Tari on Thursday with his family to a rousing welcome from the Hela Provincial Health Authority Board, led by Chairman Peter Botten, Hela Provincial Administrator William Bando, Health Secretary and HPHA director Pascoe Kase and health staff.

When speaking at the welcome ceremony, Dr Gawin told the staff and management that the only way for the HPHA to work and to move forward is for the staff and management to accept change and be willing to change.

Higaturu refuses to entertain K50m compo

Popondetta General Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Gunzee Gawin told Loop PNG however,  that the company responded saying they will look at individual victims and assist them.

He said the company refused to entertain the petition but will still compensate the victims and the deceased in their own way.

The relatives of the deceased had  given a seven days ultimatum to the company to respond to their petition.

The deadline lapsed last Friday.

They are demanding K50 million as compensation from the Higaturu Oil Palm.

13 victims of road accident laid to rest

Popondetta General Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Gunzee Gawin told Loop PNG today that the bodies were taken to their villages on Wednesday and laid to rest today.

He said the remaining 10 victims from the 16 were still at the hospital but in a stable condition.

Dr Gawin said two were discharged this morning and eight remain at the hospital.

The accident involved a PMV truck and an oil palm fruit truck belonging to the Higaturu Oil Palm Ltd.

The 13 victims died instantly at the accident site.

Injured passengers recovering at Popondetta hospital

 Hospital CEO Dr Gunzee Gawin told Loop PNG this morning that the victims have now been allowed to eat and drink.

Of the total 29 passengers, 13 were confirmed dead while the other 16 were hospitalised. Four of them were discharged yesterday while the remaining 12 were still inpatients at the hospital but are recovering.

Dr Gawin thanked the hospital surgeon, Dr Petrus Opum who has done very well to manage the victims this far.

 He said surgery is now being planned in the next several days to mend broken bones in particular.

Child in ICU at Popondetta General Hospital following accident

Popondetta General Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Gunzee Gawin told Loop PNG today that the three children were on the PMV truck that was involved in a nasty accident on Monday afternoon with an Oil palm fruit truck.

Dr Gawin told Loop PNG that the death toll still remains at 13 from Monday from the 29 passenger in the PMV truck.

However, four patient has been discharged this morning while 12 are still in hospital with three of them in a very critical condition.

Popondetta General Hospital mortuary full

Chief Executive Officer Dr Gunzee Gawin told Loop PNG that the hospital mortuary will only cater for 12 bodies.

“Right now, we have more than 20 bodies in the mortuary. Some were unclaimed bodies from last year.”

However, he thanked the Swire Shipping for providing a 30ft container for the hospital to use and place some bodies in.

Dr Gawin said a mass burial will be made for the deceased either this weekend or next Monday.

Oro relatives demand K50 million for road accident

Popondetta General Hospital CEO Dr Gunzee Gawin told Loop PNG that the driver and crew of the oil palm fruit truck ran away after the accident and are still at large.

Dr Gawin says the police are still looking for them and will be arrested soon.

He said Ijivitari MP David Aore and Sohe MP Delilah Gore are negotiating with Higaturu and the people on a prudent solution on the issue.

Meanwhile, all shops, banks and service stations in Popondetta are still closed as relatives and friends are  demanding answers to the cause of the road accident yesterday.