Dr. Alphonse Rongap, Vice President of the National Doctors Association, announced yesterday that the staffs of ANGAU hospital are supporting the NEC’s decision.
He condoned the action taken by the local leaders of Morobe who blocked the ANGAU CEO’s office and petitioned the NEC over the appointment of ANGAU’s Acting CEO.
“Angau Hospital is a state institution and we must respect the decisions that the government makes”, Dr. Rongap said.
What that has happened at the hospital on Monday was described by Dr. Rongap as an act of disrespect to the state.
“We welcomed the decision of the National Executive Council in appointing a new CEO, and more so, the appointing of a new hospital board,” Dr. Rangap said.
The protest by the local leaders at the hospital comes a week later after NEC appointed Dr. Jims Abrahams, as the Acting ANGAU’s CEO until a permanent CEO is appointed.
The leaders are representing the group, Voice of Morobe, who wants Dr. Polapoi Chalau, to be reinstated as the CEO of Angau hospital.
“We want Dr. Chalau to remain as the CEO”, the local leaders said on Monday this week.
On Tuesday, the Health Minister, Michael Malabag responded in a statement, calling on the local leaders to respect the government’s decision.
But the ANGAU hospital is not new to this problem, last year, a series of event had happened at the hospital.
The rape of a female nurse triggered the closure of the hospital for two days.
The nurse union’s boycotted work and demanded the hospital management to listen to their demands.
ANGAU hospital will receive nearly K700 million from the asylum center deal that will go towards its major reconstruction.
But a management problem may have serious implications on the redevelopment of ANGAU hospital.
Much of the concerns that have been raised by the ANGAU hospital staffs have been on its board and management.
And the ANGAU nurses and staffs hope the NEC’s decision in appointing a new hospital boss will end all the anxiety that has come about at the hospital.
