The scaling down of health services atthe Angau hospital has attracted high level government attention.
The Community Development Minister and Lae MP Loujaya Toni, and Housing Minister and Markham MP Paul Isikiel couldn’t avoidthe concerns raised bythe nurses whenthey visitedthe hospital on Tuesday following order from Prime Minister Peter O’Neill.
The Prime Minister has directed two of his ministers from Morobe to quickly addressthe Angau Hospital nurses issue.
Minister Toni meanwhile expressed her frustrations overthe lack of proper dialogue between her office andthe Angau’s nurse union as nether she nor Minister Isikiel was given a copy ofthe petition when it was presented to Morobe lLeadersin February this year.
“Any grievance with regards to health sector, education or whatever onthe ground in Lae electorate – I am your first point of call. I am on ground zero with you, and you should havethe courtesy and respect to know that you mandated me to carry your burden. You give it to me so I’ll bring it up tothe parliament,” Loujaya toldthe Angau nurses.
The two ministers assuredthe nurse union thattheir ten point petition presented in February is now before cabinet and thatthe change ofthe hospital’s board and management will bethe first to go.
The nurses have been raising concerns over hospital staff security and housing problems.
It is understood that Fifteen Million Kina is sitting inthe hospital’s bank account but haven’t been utilized; andthe hospital’s board and management hasthe authority to releasethe money which it didn’trsquo;t. And, that was one ofthe things that have frustratedthe nurses.
The medical services atthe hospital meanwhile resumed on Wednesday afterthe assurances given tothe nurses bythe two ministers.
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