**** CABINET APPROVES DECLARATION OF STATE OF EMERGENCY FOR ANGAU MEMORIAL HOSPITAL**** The National Executive Council has approved that a State of Emergency be declared for the Angau Memorial Hospital in Lae, Morobe Province for urgent repair and maintenance work to be carried at the premier health facility. Prime Minister Peter O’Neill said Cabinet in its meeting yesterday endorsed a submission for urgent work to commence at the Angau hospital and that K15 million parked in a health trust account be released for this to happen. “With the declaration of this State of Emergency, it will enable urgent repair work to be fast-tracked at the hospital and for procurement requirements to be waived. In line with this, NEC has approved a contract worth more than K5 million to the Hornibrook NGI company for it to carry out emergency restoration work at the hospital immediately. “This issue of lack of maintenance and possible collapse of the Angau hospital has been of great concern for the people of Lae city and the Morobe province. Despite funds being allocated over the years, lack of proper management as well as the inefficiency of public servants entrusted to look after this facility has resulted in its dilapidated state. “I have visited the facility myself on several occasions and have been saddened with what I saw. I have talked with both patients and hospital staff about their concerns. Therefore, this government has committed itself to restore the existing facility and to build a new one,” Mr O’Neill said. The Prime Minister said NEC has also authorized the Minister for Finance to waiver all procurement or tender procedures for the procurement of supplies and contractors, consistent with the Financial Management Act. The Finance Minister has been further authorized by Cabinet to approve all procurement of supplies under the restoration program based on three quotations from three suppliers. The Angau hospital, which was built 35 years ago, is one of our major hospitals in the country. This hospital not only serves patients from the Morobe Province but those coming from the Highlands and the Momase regions. It also hosts the only cancer or oncology clinic in the country. Mr O’Neill said the Health department has been directed to liaise with the project managers to coordinate all the repair and restoration work at the hospital.
Posted on: Thu, 24 Oct 2013 13:09:31 +0000
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