by Jack Lapauve Jr – EM TV, Port Moresby
St John Ambulance Services will temporarily cease all operations, starting tomorrow.
Chief Commissioner, Andrew Kalai, told EMTV News that prolonged delays in the approval of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Department of Health and no support funding has resulted in this decision being made.
Commissioner Kalai says all emergency cases will now, regrettably, go unattended.
He added that the government has responded to their budget but has come short on supporting all its operations.
The delay in approval of the MOU has resulted in over five drafts being handed to the National Department of Health, but nothing positive have been reached in terms of approving the MOU.
St John responds to over 300 emergency calls a day in Port Moresby, Kalai says, and the public will now be forced seek these services through other means.
“Either the public will attend to emergency cases through public transport, private cars or any other means. It is up to the public now,” Kalai said.
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8yMp-P7bpi4%3Ffeature%3Doembed%26wmode%3Dopaque%26showinfo%3D0%26showsearch%3D0%26rel%3D0
