By LORRAINE WOHI
LALOKI Psychiatric Hospital outside of Port Moresby on Tuesday last week launched several of its projects that are milestones under its 2021-2025 corporate plan.
The projects include the launching of the corporate plan 2021-2025 and policy handbook, commissioning of water supply to the hospital area, presentation of two new vehicles, and the commissioning of the Coral Wing ward which hosts the forensic ward that was burnt down in May 2020.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Wilbur Los Vati commended and thanked Water PNG for bringing in safe water to the patients and staff of the hospital.
She said for the past 12 years they have not been using safe water.
“For the last 12 years, the institution has been using bore water for drinking which had unfortunately become contaminated and has high calcium content on the ground that blocked pipes,” she said.
She said the hospital started in 1967 and from the colonial days and since then not much development has been undertaken.
“The best part of all is the five-year corporate plan 2021-2025 and the first ever organisational policy manual draft,” she said.
“The corporate plan will help us to monitor the finances and liabilities, identify opportunities and control internal systems and structures.
“It will be governed by the policy and principles that are being launched, even so we still have a long way to go.”
The hospital currently has 27 patients with the youngest being 13 years old and the eldest is 60.
The water project was funded by the Department of Health at a total cost of K2 million connecting water from 9-Mile to Laloki junction.
Dr Wilbur added that a total of K157,000 from the project funds had help get the water running to all of its operational areas and staff accommodation.
She added that shortage of manpower and other resources remain one of the institution’s main challenges.
