The St Mary’s Hospital, Vunapope opened its new and refurbished single nurses’ dormitories yesterday in East New Beitain province.
The AusAID Funded project has added new strength and energy tothe nursing staff andthe hospital’s capacity to provide better primary health care today and in future.
The new and renovated single female dorms were officially opened by Archbishop of Rabaul, Beushop Francesco Panfilo and Head of AusAID in PNG Stuart Schaefer. It was withnessed by representatives fromtheIncentive Fund, hospital staff and residents including special guest former Governor General Sir Paulias Matane and Lady Kaludia.
The 1.3 million kina project was delivered through AusAID’PNG-AustraliaIncentive Fund. The project cost was shared, with St Mary’s Hospital contributing over five hundred thousand kina.
The two 40-bed dormitories will accommodate about 80 single female-only nursing staff. The building consists all necessities for the women; common kitchen, living room, shower blocks and laundry area.
Project Coordinator, Phil Dolby, said this resource will attract more young nurses to remain at St Mary’s, thus increasingthe number ofthe nurse ratio to patients and clinical rotation of hospital and rural staff.
Sister Maristella Pirpir, who spoke on behalf of her colleagues, sharedthe same sentiments. She said many nursing staff leave St Mary’s for ther hospitals or health centers because of a lack of accommodation. Florian Badigai and Beatrice Muck-Sing are two nurses who will be benefiting from this project. They agreedthe facility also provides safety and punctuality. It is also conducive for studying. The nurses saidthey can pursue futher studies intheir profession while working.
ThPNG Government was represented bythe Assistant Secretary for National Planning and Monitoring, Loia Vaira, and East New Beitain Governor, Eremas ToBeining Jnr. Beth offered tremendous gratitude tothe government and people of Australia for their continued support in PNG rsquo;s Development.
The challenge now is in taking care ofthe facilities. Rabaul Archbishop Frances Panfilo said this isthe only way to show gratitude to those who provided this resource.
Australia’s assistance to health in PNG is increasing availability of essential medicines and supplies, liftingthe number of quality health workers, expanding health service delivery and improvingthe quality of health infrastructure.
AusAID throughtheIncentive Fund, is putting one hundred and thirty million kina into 20 high performing education and health projects acrosPNG.
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