NIPA Kutubu District Hospital in Southern Highlands Province is anticipating to accommodate Operating Theatre Services to run together with its daily operational services.
Southern Highlands Health Authority (SHPHA) will partner with the District Development Authority to facilitate this.
SHPHA team led by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Dr. Joseph Birisi has already conducted a successful consultative meeting to drive this agenda.
Member for Nipa Kutubu Hon. Dr. Billy Joseph and Mendi Munhiu MP Hon. Raphael Tonpi were also part of this consultative meeting.
Dr. Billy said the meeting was an excellent one and that it was a welcoming news for the people of Nipa Kutubu.
“It’s welcoming news that SHPHA wants to bring Operating Theatre Services to Nipa District Hospital while Mendi Operating Theatre undergoes maintenance,” Dr. Billy said.
He said Nipa Kutubu District Development Authority (NKDDA) will allocate most, if not all, of its Health component this year in making this possible.
Dr. Billy also stated that a working committee between SHPHA and NKDDA will be in place to realize this.
“We also discussed running an Ambulance Service for SHPHA starting with Nipa Kutubu and Mendi Munhiu districts as well as other interested districts as well in the province, to improve health service delivery through Private Public Partnership (PPP) and Church Health Services.
“We will need more transparency from SHPHA on the sectorial grants allocation for district health services, staffing structure and how to fund the shortfalls in the immediate term.
“We talked about standards of health facilities and compliance to standards of facilities and services that meets the levels of these facilities,” Dr. Billy said.
Meanwhile, Dr. Billy urged SHPHA to make standard drawings of the different levels of the health facilities available and must work with contractors to ensure all standards are met at each stage of the construction of these facilities.
“PHA must do quarterly inspections and audits and those reports made available to the respective DDAs as well as to the SHPG.
“We all agreed to support the Governor to push for the new SHP Provincial Hospital at Mendi Manda to be constructed by VAMED (excellent choice).”
He said health is everyone’s business. “Together we can.”
