An eviction and demolition notice served to tenants occupying rooms atthe Beue House and old X-ray building behind Port Moresby General Hospital resulted in a protest yesterday.
Health workers were supported bytheir families in a peaceful protest demanding answers fromthe hospital management for basic human rights.
The occupants ofthe Beue House and X-ray building have been livingthere for the past 25 years.
The tenants are health workers, including nurses, senior administration officers, community health workers, and support staff.
However,the hospital management did not considerthe health workers andtheir families by providing alternate housing.
“This place is what I called a home…right now I’m told to pack up and leave, but I don’t know where to go,” says Mary Mark – Health Officer.
Mrs Mark added that workers have been paying rentals every fortnight for these condemned houses.
The houses have no proper drainage, and has poor toilet facilitates, and experience water shortages every day.
“The hospital management gave us three eviction notices informing us to look for our own accommodation…but we feel that we’re employees of this hospital and thatthey should havethe responsibility to accommodate us,” says Nurse Gwyneth Eric.
Mrs Eric voiced that accommodation is a major problem inthe city and how wouldthey survive ifthe eviction takes place.
Mrs Eric mentioned that 2 female nursing officers were forced and threatened bythe hospital management to take fellow leave and evictthe nursing quarters.
Most health workers have been forced to mover to Laloki; however, onlythe hospital employee will residethere withouttheir family members.
It was also noted thatthe 3 eviction notice served tothe occupants ofthe Beue House and X – Ray were not signed.
Meanwhile, an attempt to speak tothe CEO ofthe Port Moresby General Hospital was unsuccessful.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=syBea4bIVhw%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
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