Gerehu General Hospital Temporarily Closed Due to Flooding

Gerehu General Hospital in Port Moresby has temporarily closed due to flooding caused by heavy rainfall.

Last night at 5 pm, the hospital was significantly affected by the downpour, which resulted in flooding of the main hospital building and surrounding areas.

The floodwaters caused backflow from toilets, and the areas in and around the hospital became unsanitary for both patients and staff.

The flooding has highlighted ongoing issues with the hospital’s infrastructure, which is old and in need of major maintenance. The building has been continuously affected by heavy rains, leading to further deterioration.

In response to the situation, the NCDPHA management has decided to close the facility to prioritize the safety of staff and patients.

The management is fully committed to resolving the issue as quickly as possible. Necessary repairs and upgrades to the hospital’s drainage system, along with other infrastructure improvements, will be made to prevent future flooding.

The hospital’s Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) team, along with staff, carried out a mass clean-up and decontamination effort today.

However, they anticipate that the affected areas will not be safe for another few days. Relevant technical experts (health, safety, and building) have been recommended to assess the infrastructure for long-term safety and provide further recommendations.

For now, the hospital is closed for services, except for the resupply of medication for TB patients. The hospital management apologizes for the inconvenience caused and urges the public to seek medical care at our other nearby clinics: Morata Urban Clinic, Tokarara Urban Clinic, and St. Theresa Clinic.

Acting CEO, Dr. Robin Oge, commented, “We are prioritizing the resolution of this issue and are taking all necessary steps to ensure the hospital is restored and safe for reopening.

The situation is actively managed, and we are working closely with all relevant agencies to resolve this as quickly as possible. We expect all services at GGH to open by the end of this week.”

The public, patients, and stakeholders will receive updates on the progress of repairs, and the hospital management is committed to reopening the facility as soon as possible.