Madang Governor calls for devolution of powers from Waigani to provinces
Madang Governor Ramsey Pariwa has called for the devolution of certain powers from Waigani to the provinces to enable provincial governments to manage their own affairs.
He said this yesterday whilst launching a 20- footer container full of medical drugs at the Madang Provincial Hospital.
Governor Pariwa appealed to the national government to devolve and decentralise certain powers to the provincial governments so they can look after their own people.
"I know the National Medicine Policy states that the procurement powers for medical supplies is the responsibility of the National Department of Health, but we can not continue to sit and wait on Waigani to help us.
"You cannot manage the country from Waigani. You cannot run Papua New Guinea from Waigani. It is hard, and that is why we are gathered here. Serious decentralisation approach must take place so that we can be given enough powers to attend to our people's needs," Governor Pariwa said.
He said the Madang government has responded to the situation at the provincial hospital when it scaled down services and presented container of medicines to the board and management of the Madang Provincial Health Authority.
The purchase of the medical supplies was made possible with funding assistance from the Governor's Provincial Support Improvement Program (PSIP) funds.
Pariwa said another container will be delivered in the coming one or two months and assured the people that the govermnment will continue to support the health sector in the province to make sure people get the services they deserve.
The Madang Government has also assisted in rebuilding the children's ward and in purchasing two Southern Cross tanks, which have helped alleviate the hospital's water woes.
Present to witness the launch was Deputy Board Chairman of MaPHA, Young Wadau, Director of Curative Health Services, Dr Jiuth Gawi, Acting Executive Director of the Madang Provincial Hospital, Jeremiah Johnmark, senior medical officers and hospital staff.
Speaking on behalf of MaPHA's CEO, Dr Martin Daimen, who is out of the province, Dr Gawi applauded Governor Pariwa and his government for always stepping in to assist whenever the hospital is in dire need of help.
Deputy Board Chairman, Young Wadau highlighted the need for MaPHA to start exploring possible means of revenue- generation to help sustain its operations when government funds are slow in coming in.
He added, "We all face this problem of no money, no medicine, etc. We have not looked deeper down into ourselves, from the executive management, the board to see how we can make money.
"Madang PHA is a corporate entity made by the Act of Parliament and it can formulate business to make money on its own. We have not gone to that path that's why we are saying no money, no money.
"We are looking at the national government, we are asking the business entities to help us, and they do come out but very reluctantly. When the money comes in, it is all misappropriated. And I am not going to take apology for saying that." Chairman Wadau said.