The New Usino Health Facility recently opened over the weekend is the first health facility in Madang province that complied with the National Health Services standard.
Acting Director of Public Health Services, Dr. Martin Daimen, says in the past health facilities were built following the implementers own plans and designs.
But it is now a requirement that all health facilities have to follow the health services standards.
“Now we have to follow the National Health Services Standards, we will not accept other standards or buildings that do not meet the required health services standards. Under the authority we work according to the National Health Services Standard. And Usino Health Facility is the first facility to follow the standard.”
Dr. Daimen explained that other health services starting from the aid post level to the provincial hospitals will need to follow the same approach.
Recently the Madang Provincial Health Authority Board has approved the Strategic Health Services Development Plan.
“The Development Plan is a roadmap to guide the establishment of health facilities like the Usino-Bundi Health facility”.
Dr. Daimen added that MaPHA has already planned out what kind of facilities to build in the province, while there is also a plan to set up district hospitals in the 6 districts of Madang.
For now, Madang has two district hospitals run by the Lutheran Health services.
Yagaum Rural Hospital in Madang District and Gaubin Rural Hospital on Karkar Island, Sumkar District.
“The other Districts would also have their own district hospitals. In Madang province the first district hospital, a pilot project in PNG first was in Pomio and the 2nd is in Daigul, Bogia District and work had already started to build the district hospital”.
Dr. Daimen says the task now lies with the local members and the District Development Authorities of each of the districts to work with MaPHA and to start work.
He is appealing to the people of Usino-Bundi and surrounding communities to take ownership of the new health facility and its health officers.
Madang has 48 major health facilities but two health centers in Raicoast District were closed due to criminal activities.
Walium Health Centre was also closed for a month as a result of law and order problems.
Dr.Daimen warned that similar actions will be taken if there are reports of staff harassment or breaking and entering or vandalism of the health facility.
He added that health services in Madang province have deteriorated over the years and the cost of delivering health care services has gone up.
“This is the risk MaPHA will have to take on. MaPHA Board, the senior executive management and staff will take on the cost of delivering health care in the province”.
Basic infrastructures like roads, bridges, airstrips and even law and order problems are some of the contributing factors affecting delivery of health care”.
Dr. Daimen says MaPHA will work with two specialized doctors to set up an eye clinic and a cancer unit at the new facility.
But there is still a need for other medical equipment that are yet to be fitted into the health facility with staff housing.
Local MP and Education Minister, Jimmy Uguro, says health facility was constructed through consultation with a team from the health department.
The team from the health department had done an assessment prior to the construction of the health center.
“Work on the Usino health facility is yet to be completed.
“This is phase one of the projects. The second phase is the construction of staff houses,” said local MP, Jimmy Uguro.
Uguro added that Usino Bundi’s district hospital will be a level 4 hospital as approved by the Health Minister and it will be built at Walium as that is the district’s headquarter.
Prime Minister, James Marape allocated funding of K5million, while the health department added another K5million for the district hospital.
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