By Julie Badui Owa – EMTV News, Port Moresby
The Milfordhaven Health facility in Lae has been closed several times due to deteriorating infrastructure, and a lack of medical equipment and staff.
The clinic was built in the 1960’s and serves over 13,000 people in Lae’s Ward 3 area.
Officer In Charge (OIC) Lazarus Karealonan said they have sought help from the Health Division, the Provincial Government and Lae Urban Local Level Government, but to no avail.
Over the years the building has deteriorated and is no longer safe for people to use. With only three staff working here and doctors visiting twice a week, the clinic serves almost 90 patients a day.
Reportedly, there is no autoclave machine at the clinic for sterilizing medical tools to ensure they are clinically safe for use.
Mr Kareolonan, told EMTV news in Lae that not much has been done by authorities to improve the standard of the facility over the years.
Fortunately, Islands Petroleum, a Lae-based Company operating in the same area as the clinic has recognized the need. Through its charity ‘Color Run’ event on the 22nd of this month (July), the organization will raise funds towards the clinic’s repair and maintenance, and to purchase new medical equipment.
According to the company’s Lubrication Sales Engineer, Raybon Tamegal, Islands Petroleum Color Run is held annually throughout the country and focuses on funding institutions that are in need.
Last year (2017), Milfordhaven Primary School benefitted from more than fifty thousand kina raised by the company, through the ‘Colour Run’ event.
