190112NEW HANDS FOR BGH
By Tapo Tovilu

Buka General Hospital has three new hands to help out with their health care delivery in the region.
The three new Resident Medical Officers flew into Buka last month for their two year residency at Buka General Hospital.
Dr Mathias Tovilu acting Director of Medical Services and head of Paediatrics in Buka Hospital said that the three will be rotating throughout different sections in the hospital.
He says this month two of the RMO’s will start in the paediatrics section and will be involved all medical work in the section.
The RMO’s are expected to complete a rotational residency by the end of the October.
The program will end at the end of a two year period and will consist of all medical and operational fields.

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200112FREE HEALTHCARE A DREAM
By Tapo Tovilu

The new move by the National Government to introduce free medical healthcare has been brushed aside as being a dream.
Buka General Hospital, following directions from the national health division has been ordered to carry on operations as usual.
Acting Director of Medical Services Dr Mathias Tovilu told New Dawn FM that Buka General Hospital will not be providing free medical care until it is directed to.
He says that for many of the government run hospitals in the country have a lot of problems in healthcare service provision.
Dr Tovilu says that if healthcare is to be free the government must seriously look into fixing all existing problems facing hospitals around the country.
With the Hospital currently facing the shortage of drugs the implementation of the free medical care will be a blow to the hospitals current state.
He announced that the hospital will continue to charge patients’ for medical services provided as the fees charged will help in purchasing medical drugs.

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250112UPNG STUDENTS COMPLETE AWARENESS
By Tapo Tovilu

A group made up of University of Papua New Guinea Bougainville students has just completed a two week long awareness program in south and central Bougainville.
The high power group lead by team leader, Israel Pais a third year Political Science student carried out awareness on the structure roles and responsibilities of the ABG and its branches.
The awareness was mainly targeted at the people of South and Central Bougainville mainly in the areas where fighting between combatant groups are still ongoing.
Israel says that due to the lack of sufficient knowledge on the newly adapted system of government in place for Bougainville, groups like the Mekamui and Liberation forces are still fighting.
He says his team visited the fighting zones and carried out awareness on the government structure to combatants and villagers.
Many of the chiefs and people in the areas they visited were pleased with the awareness and the information which they had received.
The awareness was funded by the ABG and an official report will be released at the end of the month.

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250112 BGH DENIES REPORT
By Tapo Tovilu

Buka General Hospital is denying reports that blood bags have been discarded due to power outages.
The report released in one of the daily newspapers speculated that due to the constant power outages in Buka town Buka Hospital had to discard blood bags.
Acting DMS Dr Mathias Tovilu says that the hospital is fully equipped with a standby generator and storage UPS to cater for the changeover.
He says the hospital at the moment would not throw away any blood bags as they are currently short on blood.
He says the hospital is operating as usual and has assured the people of Bougainville that the hospital will serve them well.

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26012BORA THREATENING WISAI
By Tapo Tovilu

The cocoa pod bora is threatening cocoa farmers of Wisai in South Bougainville.
The destructive pest which has destroyed many coca farms around Bougainville is now threatening many parts of South Bougainville.
Noah Tapo a youth observing the pest in Wisai has warned that the pest may soon reach Wisai.
He says cocoa seeds which are being brought into Wisai from Koromira and other parts of Central Bougainville may be a way in for the pests.
He is calling on farmers and the people of Wisai to be aware of the risks of transporting seedlings and cocoa shoots into the area.
Mr Tapo has called on agriculture department to assist in providing information on avenues which can be taken to safeguard their farms.
Attempts made by New Dawn FM to get comments from CCI were unsuccessful.

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260112CHIEFS CHALLANGED
By Tapo Tovilu

Chiefs in the Kunua District have been challenged to help in law and order in their respective communities.
The challenge was issued by the Minister for Local Level Government, Traditional Authorities and Communication Joseph Nopei.
He made the comments at the official handing over of a new police vehicle to Kuna police on Tuesday.
He thanked the Bougainville Police Service for giving regular police officers who now are working alongside the district caps.
Nopei called on chiefs and village leaders to work with police to ensure law and order in the district.
He added that police officers were also to work in collaboration with the local authorities for better community relations.

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