Ialibu referral hospital is closed

By PEARSON KOLO

THE Ialibu Referral Hospital, serving the eastern part of Southern Highlands Province, is now closed for almost two months after their power connection was cut by PNG Power due to non-payment of K40,000 outstanding power bills.
 

The Ialibu Hospital Administration said in the media last week that they could not operate because the power to the hospital was cut, making their operation impossible.
The hospital’s administration had called on the Ialibu Pangia MP and the Prime Minister Peter O’Neill to assist in paying their power bills.
But the Ialibu hospital’s need for K40, 000 to pay their power bill was described as laughable by the Lord Mayor of Ialibu Town Jacob Iki.
 

“Ialibu Hospital received a total of K5 million just over the last two years,” Mr Iki, who is also the Chairman of Southern Highlands Provincial Health, said.
“Ialibu Hospital got K3 million for renovation works, K1.5 million for purchasing new hospital equipment and another K300,000 released just last year for renovation work again.”
The Lord Mayor said the hospital could have used that money to pay for the outstanding power bill which according to Mr Iki had been incurred for over two years.
Mr Iki said the Ialibu Hospital administration was answerable to how the K5 million was spent which he said was received during a period of two years and must show their local MP and Prime Minister what they have achieved with the money.
 

“The hospital’s administration has evidently misused the funds and are unable to manage the hospital properly, putting the lives of the people of the eastern part of SHP at risk,” Mayor Iki said.
Mr Iki has called on the Southern Highlands Provincial Administration to conduct an investigation on how the K5 million was used.
He asked the hospital administration not to go on the media and beg for money which they cannot manage and added that the Ialibu Hospital was the only referral hospital in the area and must be reopened immediately for the people.