Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH)

The dedication service was held at the hospital’s administration premises led by the Karokoukouna Ministry group with Pastor Dora Kua and group of hospital chaplains.  

Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paki Molumi while appreciating the dedication of the hospital workforce in these trying times, expounded on three targets set by the management for the year. 

Predictions were made last year, regarding a fourth surge to occur in March, however, traces were made of the fourth wave arising in Port Moresby.

PMGH has been tracking COVID positive rates from last year, through to this month, noting that there has been an increase since the third wave in September 2021.

In the past week alone, 250 tests were performed on patients, with results of about 150 positive cases from the testing activity.

Starting early in the week, the Pacific Industries Ltd has reached out to the PMGH staff to share the Christmas love by donating 104 cartons of Pepsi Max  drinks to support the Staff Christmas Lunch Week.  

Friends of POMGEN in partnership with the PMGH is currently hosting their annual Christmas Thank you for all staff.

The weeklong lunch event started on Monday 13 December and ends today, Friday 17 December at the PMGH lawns, feeding over 1300 staff.

FOPG officially launched their 21 days of ‘Gift a Friend’ program at Waterfront Foodworld. The program will run from 29 of November to 20^th December 2021.

The FOPG Executive Management team, representative from Port Moresby General  Hospital Management and partners including Waterfront and Miss Alibi from Alibi Bar and Grill rallied together to support this special cause.

Founding Director and Deputy Chairlady of POPG, Kathy Johnston said the Christmas festive season is a time of sharing and giving.

The PSA Oxygen Plant was planned so the government can be able to meet the demand of oxygen requirements in PNG.

“And this is how we save lives. The key component as Dr. Molumi was saying, to combat the COVID-19 virus is oxygen. And we are so appreciative to our foreign partners, our donor partners WHO and Global Fund for ensuring that we have an oxygen plant which is needed the most,” Minister Wong said.

In sealing this commitment, Miss Alibi, Writer Collin donated 20 beds and kitchen utensils from her sponsor in partnership with Jay Mart to the charity.

The donated items would go to a soon to be refurbished children’s cancer ward at the hospital.

Miss Collin, made known that she would use her platform to raise awareness on the work of the organization and raise funds for their cause.

Friends of POMGen is a newly established fundraising arm of the Port Moresby General Hospital that works with donors and supporters to address areas of need within the hospital.

A report from the Chief Executive Officer’s office stated that there were 115 inpatients admitted at the Taurama Aquatic Centre and PMGH. Total number of beds in both facilities is 224. There were seven discharges and three deaths.

Out of the 46 that were tested within the 24 hours, 19 were positive and 27 turned returned negative, thus the positivity rate as of yesterday was 14 percent.

He said the hospital has now reached a crisis point. Cases of the COVID-19 Delta Variant has added to the current situation.

Dr. Molumi said the hospital is struggling with manpower to save lives and also to manage the dead.

“The Delta Variant is aggressively attacking people with 87 percent of the patients who showed symptoms of COVID-19 were tested positive to the disease.”

He said the hospital has also recorded a high number of people with breathing problems at the Emergency ward and dead bodies arriving at one time to be stored at the mortuary.

He said the hospital was aware of the issue when Member for Abau, Sir Puka Temu, raised this in Parliament on Wednesday 13th of October.

“We were surprised to hear that PMGH has turned away Central Province patients who are seeking treatment for COVID at Port Moresby General Hospital,” said Dr. Molumi.

He said a report is on foot to investigate any security personnel or staff of the hospital who rejected any patients that was seeking treatment at the hospital.

Medical Physicist student, Luwis Gabriel who is doing his second year undertaking a Master's degree in Medical Physics has completed his course.

He is into the second component of his program, focusing on research and is expected to complete studies by the end of the year.

In an arrangement between the university and the Sri Lankan Health Ministry, Mr Gabriel has had the opportunity to do a one-year clinical internship with the Sri Lankan National Cancer Research Institute Margahma.