PNGeans, what is happening? I first heard about mothers sleeping on the floor after delivery some years but this is the first time i heard of mothers delivering on the floor. This is an outrage and something must be done about it.
The future of PNG can't be brought into this world like savage animals on the floor. What is happening?? Every pngean who think he/she is educated is responsible for every baby that is born in PNG whether you like it or not! We are PNGeans after all, we see ourselves as individuals but I hope we think as PNGeans, what are we going to do?? We are wasting awaying according to such vital health indicators of developement.
ALL attempts to keep Lae’s Angau Hospital running have been exhausted and the hospital may have to shut within two weeks.
Angau acting chief executive officer Dr Polapoi Chalau confirmed reports yesterday that the hospital board chairman Benson Nablu had written a letter to Health Minister Sir Peter Barter informing him of how desperate the hospital management was to keep the services going while the building was rotting away.
“We’re trying to avoid that situation but we’ve exhausted all avenues.
“We’ve moved patients to different wards but those measures have been exhausted,” Dr Chalau said.
Of the 325 beds, half are affected as wards are either closed and patients are relocated to avoid having them in condemned wards.
He said there were patients sleeping in the corridors of the accident and emergency department, while mothers and newborn babies have had no option but to use the floor in the labour ward after delivery.
The letter said there was an increase in the number of babies delivered on the floor who were being readmitted to the hospital because they contracted infections while in the labour ward. There was also a reported increase in the number of cubicle deaths.
“These are deaths of patients who have been left sleeping outside the wards due to non-availability of beds in the hospital,” the letter said.
The board said electrical faults at the hospital were a real fire hazard.
“The old buildings remained a health hazard to staff and patients from ”. SIR Peter said in response to the letter that funds had been allocated in the Government’s supplementary budget for the emergency project at Angau but he did not know what had happened to that money. He said a similar situation occurred to the cancer unit. “The situation at Angau is similar to other projects that were funded under the Supplementary Budget. “I am frustrated. I am sure this frustration is shared by the Prime Minister and all the recipients of the Supplementary Budget.”
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It happens at Popondetta Hospital as well. I was there in 2005 and while there made a small documentary about the hospital, I was not permitted into the labour wards but was taken to the maternity section to film a sick new born baby, there I spoke with the midwife who told me conditions are bad and women give birth on the floor. I also filmed the childrens ward which I was permitted into, all bar 4 patients had been sent home due to a strike by nurses, all in all conditions were nothing short of appalling, Dr Kevin P from POM gen hopsital talked to me about doing a series of DOC films to draw attention to the plight of ALL hospitals in PNG, Its a problem that needs to be addressed, and it goes deeper than the hospitals AID POSTS too have no medical supplies, these aids posts service great areas and are as important as hospitals,I worked hand in hand with Rotary here in Australia and Png and also worked with Operation Smile part of the Mater Hospital in Brisbane, but its just too much for anyone person to take on.
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I just came across this posting and I'm lost for words just reading. I can't believe this is happening in PNG.
I'm a stay-at-home mother of 2 and was all teary as I can't imagine what it's like for the mothers/babies involved.
Pls. if there's anything, we can do, be it small to help out, singaut ikam...
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This is very sad. And to see that it happens in the second largest hospital in PNG. My heart goes out to all the mothers in Lae. The new appointment of the Health secretary is good. Shame on Dr. Mann.
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Can the media stay on top of this issue until something eventuates? Maybe EMTV should make an alarming report and interview the Health Minister/Prime Minister. Post Courier & National run it as headline on the front page. I think the media should start grilling & shaming the leaders at the top and bring it to attention of the public. Every election, we vote members we think will change our future for the better but they all fail us.
God Bless all the PNG mothers who are doing it tough. I never truly valued my mother until I became one myself and found this experience very challenging compared to life itself.
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Comparing media aggressiveness in Aus and PNG, the camera crew catch the MPs or individuals inquestion at their residence, offices and even at the pubs, trying to get answers from them. Our media should do this instead of faxing appointments. They will never get answers. Aggresive journalism is required to keep information in the public face.
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Lioness Club of Lae - Contact: Karen Quinn Phone: 472 1604
Soroptimist International of Lae - Contact: Verity Smith-Loretz or Bing Sawanga 472 1666 (BH) or P.O. Box 1800, Lae
Young Women's Christian Association of Papua New Guinea
Postal Address: P.O. Box 5884, Boroko, NCD
Tel. (675) 325 2181/325 2180
Fax (675) 325 6158
E-mail: ywcapng@datec.com.pg
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