THE Kikori District Hospital has received a timely funding support of K10 million from the National Government to elevate standand, staffing and appropriate equipment.
Member for Kikori and Minister for Provincial and Local Level Government Affairs, Hon. Soroi Eoe on behalf of government presented the dummy cheque of K10 million to the Nurse Manager of Kikori Hospital Sister Serah Kaipu yesterday, Saturday 18th March 2023.
The cheque presentation was also witnessed by other senior staff of the hospital including local representatives from the Kikori District.
“This K10 million is part of overall funding of K40 million which is still coming. This is in compliance to our government policy to develop and build district hospitals throughout Papua New Guinea,” Minister Eoe said.
He said district hospitals are important because that’s where majority of people live.
The Minister said the Kikori District Hospital was never given adequate funding support such as this for so long and thanked Marape-Rosso Government for finally supporting the hospital.
“We have been as much as possible supporting the hospital in small ways using DSIP funds as well as COVID-19 funds, and with this K10 million coming in is a big intervention,” he said.
Minister Eoe further said that the hospital contains all the important requirements of hospitals but there is no proper morque.
“I hope this will be possibly looked at with the help of this funding. So, I hope building an important institution of government such as hospital should cater for our people in the district.”
“I’m very greatful to the government for supporting our people of Kikori district to have this important facility being built,” said Minister Eoe.
The Kikori MP also added that Ihu Local Level Government of Kikori district also need hospital and he is planning to announce funding support at earliest in order for construction work to commence.
Mrs Kaipu thanked the national government for the K10 million funding support and expressed that the funding is “timely as it will really help rebuild the falling hospital”.
“We really have been seeking funding support to upgrade the hospital and with this funding coming in is timely,” Mrs Kaipu expressed.
She said Kikori Hospital not only attends to patients within Kikori district but patients that come from as far as Ihu and Southern Highlands province almost every day.
“Given this situation, the hospital status has been upgraded to level four (4). And this funding is a boost to also upgrade the hospital to that standard.”
Kikori District Hospital is run by Gulf Christian Service.
