Port Moresby General Hospital (PMGH)

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.

Dr. Molumi made the statement when speaking at an early Independence Anniversary celebration recently hosted at the hospital.

He said while the country reflects on 46 years of political independence, Port Moresby General Hospital should also reflect on how far it has progressed during this time as healthcare providers.

Dr. Molumi reflected on his 10-years working as an Ear-Neck-Throat (ENT) surgeon prior to his appointment as the hospital's CEO and said a bulk of his tasks included writing referrals for patients to seek further treatment overseas.

A leading pathologist has actually advised the family to delay the autopsy and ask for a Coronas Inquest into the deaths.

The pathologist has said that these are no ordinary deaths and the implications of this investigation are serious.

“All persons in position of responsibility from the hospital CEO, Health Secretary, the Pandemic Controller right up to the Prime Minister are culpable and must bear responsibility,” Mr Namah said.

“Any autopsy that is conducted must include all related deaths at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Dr. Molumi was responding to a query by this newsroom to get clarification on information received, where a reader alerted of a sit-in protest that was to happen today, regarding unpaid allowances.

In response, he confirmed that the management is aware of a few corporate service staff who are protesting for their COVID-19 overtime allowance claims.

“I met with three representatives to understand what the nature of their claims are, because PMGH as an institution believes in looking after staff who deliver patients care in difficult circumstances. 

PMGH Assistant Coordinator, Dr Duncan Sengiromo highlighted this at the launch of a Triaging system that will be used to keep up with the hospital’s vision to become the national referral specialist and a teaching hospital.

After three weeks of online training and interactive sessions with members of the Clinical Support Program (Phase II) and the Australian College of Emergency Medicine, the staff of the hospital’s Emergency Department launched the Interagency Integrated Triage Tool (IITT).

Sesago Healthcare presented the packs to PMGH yesterday. Sesago has been providing health support to PMGH. The gift packs it gave were donated by its partner Kimberly Clark, Australia.

The 210 maternity kits are part of a campaign in which Sesago Healthcare is assisting mothers and new born babies at the PMGH, especially with the alarming increase in number of babies being delivered, during the pandemic.

In a small ceremony at the Port Moresby General Hospital yesterday, the Chinese Ambassador to PNG, Zeng Fanhua, handed over K300,000 worth of medical supplies to Minister for Health, Jelta Wong.

The donation of equipment and consumables was handed over recently after the 11^th China Medical Team was received to work at the Port Moresby General Hospital.

Ambassador Zeng expressed great pleasure in meeting the Minister for Health during the event.

A letter dated 03^rd May was addressed to the Health Secretary, Dr. Osborne Liko, from the General Secretary of the PNG Nurses Association, Gibson Siune.

The letter stated: “I hereby admit that the subject matter in the PMGH Nurses Petition is wrong, should be corrected and addressed as Overtime Allowance for the COVID-19 lockdown period…sincerely apologise for any inconveniences caused”.

Kumul Petroleum Managing Director Wapu Sonk said at the presentation on May 11, “As a company, we want to contribute to keeping our population healthy and well, ‘health is your wealth’, that’s what they say. So creating wealth doesn’t necessarily relate to monetary terms, it is about improving the Human Development Index. This is the work that we are doing in education and electricity distribution as well as health, where we believe that when people are healthy, they can contribute to the economy, and in the broader growth of the country.”

Minister for Health, Sir Puka Temu, said the Government has already set aside funding to carry out this project.

Speaking to the media after the official opening of the new TB clinic at PMGH yesterday, Sir Puka said the total funding is estimated at K15m to implement the project.

“We will be trialing this project and if it’s successful, we will be rolling it across the country,” stated Sir Puka.

“PM has already committed in supporting this project and has pledged to fund it in the coming years as well.”