Four people have died from the Coronavirus (Covid-19) at the Mendi Provincial Hospital isolation centre and two others in their villages as fatalities continue to surge, an official says.
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| Artistic Impression of Mendi Hospital |
Southern Highlands health authority chief executive officer Dr Joseph Birisi said seven doctors and 23 nurses at the hospital were sick with Covid-19 symptoms, which was greatly affecting manpower.
Some frontline workers are starting to “burn out” from the long hours.
“From Sept 20 to today, the hospital recorded 200-plus cases, with 20 to 30 positive cases in a day,” Dr Birisi said.
“We have 14 inpatients and there are only 12 beds available at the isolation centre,” Dr Birisi said.
“Because of the surge, we have scaled down services especially in the outpatient unit and consultation clinic to move staff to priority areas.”
Dr Birisi said patients with moderate symptoms were sent home because there were not enough beds.
He said the hospital also had a shortage of oxygen supply, personal protective equipment, consumables and N95 masks for staff members.
“We do not have the capacity and manpower to sustain the influx of patients from all districts, as well as others from Kandep in Enga, Tambul, Western Highlands and Magarima in Hela,” Dr Birisi said.
He said there was a need to increase the bed capacity to cater for patients at the Ialibu District Hospital and also more manpower for the Nipa District Hospital.
“We are facing a big problem and need support from donor agencies, the five district development authorities and the provincial government,” Dr Birisi said.
He said they were encouraging health workers and people to get vaccinated.
Source: The National