By Vasinatta Yama – EM TV News, Mt Hagen
Kudjip Nazarene Hospital was officially declared to the Jiwaka Provincial Health Authority (PHA) by Health Minister, Sir Puka Temu on Monday. This is the first of its kind in Papua New Guinea for a church-run hospital to transform into a provincial hospital. It was exceptional for Jiwaka Province since it is a new province, and former Kudjip Nazarene Hospital is the only level 4 hospital in the province.
The country’s Health Minister, Sir Puka Temu, officially declared Kudjip Nazarene Hospital as Jiwaka General Hospital. He also declared the Provincial Health Authority and presided over the swearing in of the PHA board members, which was witnessed by Jiwaka Governor, Dr William Tongamp. Governor Tongamp has invested closed to K9 Million in the last 6 years from the Provincial Services Improvement Program funds to support health sectors in the new Province to provide quality healthcare service.
Kudjip Nazarene Hospital is the 14th to be declared a Provincial Health Authority under the National Government’s reform plan through the National Health Department to create Health Authorities in all the Provincial Hospitals for better health care. This means that all the health services in the province will be managed by the Provincial Health Authority. Jiwaka Provincial Hospital will still be co-managed by the Nazarene Health Services. According to the Memorandum of Understanding, Nazarene Health Services do not want Government interference on appointment processes and other operational areas.
Jiwaka Province has 104 health facilities, half of which are operational and functioning while the other half have already closed due to various reasons.
Jiwaka Provincial Hospital has a reputation of providing quality healthcare services to most of Highlands region for the last 40 years and is still providing it. The Province’s major challenge is to secure enough funding to renovate established health services and rundown staff houses.
Like other district health services in the country, health centres and clinics need their own ambulance and vehicles, as well as more staff to work. The Jiwaka Provincial Government is working tirelessly to make funds available for the PHA to function effectively. They are also in dialogue with the National Health Department to fast track the Jiwaka Transit Medical Store, and for partners to assist with an ambulance.
