Minister promises doctor for Norsup

Norsup Hospital, Malampa Province’s main referral hospital on Malekula, will have a resident doctor in the New Year, the Minister of Health, Jerome Ludvaune, told the staff of Norsup Hospital

and senior Malampa Province and Provincial Health staff at the hospital Wednesday.

The Minister said Norsup Hospital will have a resident doctor immediately after the New Year holidays.

He made the announcement during a visit to the hospital at the start of a one-day visit that also took in health facilities at Leviamp and his home village of Unmet, both on Northwest Malekula, also accompanied by the Secretary General of Malampa Province, Palen Ata, and Malampa Provincial Health Manager, Kepoue Andrew.

The hospital has not had a resident doctor in over six years, and the Minister assured them a doctor will be posted to Norsup hospital soon after the New Year holiday.

“The policy of this government is to bring health services to the door steps of the people,” he emphasized the government’s commitment.

“A doctor will come to the hospital if not at the end of this year, early next year,” the Minister said in response to a demand from the hospital’s Health Service Manager, Noelline Teilemb.

He also promised to put nurses in all health centres of the province.

Norsup hospital is Malampa Province’s referral but it now operates as a health centre with a staff of 48 including three registered nurses as the highest-positioned health staff, one x-ray technician and a small pharmacy team serving the people through the hospital’s outpatient, maternity and emergency services.

During the Norsup visit also the Minister handed over a banana boat complete with a 30 horsepower outboard engine for Avock Island Aid Post and another 30 horsepower outboard engine for Lamap Health Centre on South Malekula. And he handed over building materials for Unua village aid post.

Minister Ludvaune was accompanied on the visit by his Private Secretary, Kalfau Moli, his Ministry’s First Political Advisor, Steven Sau, Director General George Taleo, a representative of the Parliamentary Secretary for the MoH, Gratien Zedrak, and Ministry Accountant Jameson Mokoroe.