An agreement was signed this month for the government to further support nurses working in clinics across four wards in Luganville.

This aims to add more nurses to reduce the high number of over 100 patients seen daily at the Outpatient ward of the Northern Provincial Hospital.

The Ministry of Health and the Luganville Municipal Council signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to help reduce the heavy number of patients at the outpatient department in the north.

The main idea behind the agreement is to decentralize health services and bring them closer to people’s doorsteps through municipal clinics in the four wards of Luganville.

Luganville Municipal Town Clerk, Reynold Surmat, said with the growing population of Luganville and Sanma, there is a need to strengthen health care services.

“It will also help the clinics of the municipality, in terms of nurses that the government can provide to also serve inside the clinics and the medical supplies that the government will continue to provide to ensure they function and help deliver health services in the communities and the four wards of Luganville.”

The nurse in charge of Capius Clinic, Assen Lulu, confirmed to VBTC News that over 300 people from both town and rural areas visit the clinic each month.

“People from rural areas, when they come to town for shopping, often stop to receive medical treatment because many see that the main hospital is overcrowded, so they come to smaller dispensaries.”

Mr Surmat said the nurses serving in the four municipal clinics are employed under the Luganville Municipal Council on a contract basis.

He added that the agreement takes effect from the date it was signed by the LMC and the Ministry of Health, and both parties will work together to implement the MOU for the benefit of the people and residents of Luganville.