By Theckla Gunga – EM TV News, Port Moresby
A Memorandum of Understanding signed between the PNG Defence Force and the National Capital District Health Services, will see two important services opened to the public.
Under the MOU, medical officers from NCD Health will be working alongside health officers at Taurama to provide labour and surgical operations to the servicemen, their families and the public.
The MOU was signed in Port Moresby this morning.
The binding agreement follows a government directive in 2013 where the Health Department initiated a move to partner with the PNG Defence to cater for the people seeking health care.
The partnership will see medical help being provided to Papua New Guineans through what is believed to be the first government-to-government partnership.
The absence of a labour ward and an operating theatre at the Gerehu St. John’s Hospital, has promoted NCD Health to look at other health service providers in the country, as attempts to increase people’s access to medical help.
The signing of the MOU today signals the start of renovation work that will be conducted at the Labour ward and Operating Theatre at Taurama.
The demand for health services in Port Moresby has increased over the years following transferal cases from other provinces.
And with the limited health facilities and human resource challenges which the health department continues to face, the partnership will be conducted in a way that allows the PNGDF to provide health facilities while health officers will be provided by NCD health.
The hospital will be opened to the public in February 2016.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=pED_6gRW5kE%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
