The Minister for Health, Elias Kapavore, and Acting Secretary Ken Wai today confirmed that the construction of the Yangoru-Saussia Level Four District Hospital will start next year.
It will be one of the hospitals to be built through the Health Services Sector Development Program of the National Department of Health in collaboration with the Asian Development Bank and the World Bank.
The Minister for International Trade and Investment & Member for Yangoru-Saussia District Richard Maru, welcomed the announcement and said it was a very timely decision.
“On behalf of my people of Yangoru-Saussia District, I want to thank Minister Kapavore and his Acting Secretary for including us in the Health Services Sector Development Program. This hospital will not only serve Yangoru-Saussia District but also the traveling public of the Sepik Highway including the people of Middle Sepik Region who will be traveling to Yangoru-Saussia to access basic services once the road from Yekimbole reaches Yanchen,” said Minister Maru.
Minister Kapavore informed Minister Maru that the construction the Yangoru-Saussia District Hospital will cost an estimated K70 million which included 45 staff houses, a theatre, laboratory, dental, x-ray, mortuary, maternity ward, and all other sections, with three doctors and other specialists to be based in the district. He also said a total of 12 hectares of land was required which Minister Maru confirmed was available at the proposed site in Yangoru Station.
“We will complete topography and boundary surveys this week to provide to the National Department of Health so a masterplan for the clinical buildings and the residential areas can be completed for our district hospital,” said Minister Maru.
Meanwhile, Minister Kapavore invited Minister Maru and his DDA executives to travel to Pomio on December 17 to witness the commissioning of the Pomio District Hospital so they could appreciate the size and scope of the project because the Yangoru-Saussia District Hospital will be a replicate of it. The Pomio District Hospital will be the first district hospital in the country with a level four ranking.