by Rachel Shisei – EM TV News, Madang
Internal conflict has surfaced at the Modilon General Hospital in Madang after the Chief Executive Officer, Christine Gawi, was sentenced to jail yesterday for disobeying a court order.
Gawi was sentenced to six weeks committal to prison at the Beon Correctional Institution for not reinstating a nurse who was terminated.
Five other nurses who were terminated are also seeking legal action against Christine Gawi.
Among the six terminated, Elizabeth Mandus Wukawe is the only one who filed a lawsuit against the hospital’s CEO.
“I am the only one who’s been reinstated and is now back in work, but the others aren’t,” said Wukawe.
Others who were terminated include the Ex Director of Cooperate Services, a Hospital Training Coordinator, two Specialist ICU Nurses, a Unit Manager of the Inter-Mediate Ward and St Elizabeth Mandus Wukawa herself, who is a Specialist Midwifery Nurse.
As a result of the situation, health workers told EMTV News today that the hospital staff are divided.
There are the supporters and non-supporters of the CEO, which is affecting the hospital’s operations.
People have expressed the situation among the hospital’s staff is tense following yesterday’s decision by the National Court.
This is the second time in the hospital’s history where a CEO has been taken charged and sentenced to jail time by a nurse.
