Modilon marks 50 years

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The National, Friday, April 29, 2011

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 By JAYNE SAFIHAO
THE Modilon Training Hospital yesterday celebrated 50 years of providing health services to the province with traditional dances and stalls for the public to see what their work was about.
But notable absentees were Governor James Gau and provincial administrator Ben Lange who were away in Port Moresby for a budget review meeting.
That resulted in a proposed hospital tour being cancelled.
Former health minister, Sir Peter Barter, called for the hospital board and stakeholders to implement the Health Administration Act as a vital tool for service delivery and growth.
“Manus, Milne Bay, East Sepik and Western Highlands have initiated and are working the act to move health services in rural areas but Madang is falling way behind and I do not know if we are taking it seriously,” he said.
Sir Peter said health services were dismal in some rural areas, citing Long Island as an example, saying it had no medicine, radio or health worker for the past five years despite 2,000 people living there.
He praised the Catholic and Lutheran churches for their unseen but unwavering commitment to providing quality health care to those in remote places.
Sir Peter urged the hospital board to look into the missing K2.5 million earmarked by the government for the refurbishing and maintenance of the operating theatre some years ago.