A Catholic health official has claimed that many of the duties performed by the Vunapope Hospital staff in East New Britain were not recognised by the Department of Public Health.

Father Bill Barrow, Catholic Health Secretary for the Rabaul region, quoted figures to “show beyond any doubt that Vunapope is serving a great need in this area”.

Fr Barrow was commenting, during a nurses’ graduation ceremony at Vunapope, on “some rumours and misunderstandings that are now circulating.”

He said the rumours varied from the closure of Vunapope Hospital to its transfer to Kimbe inWest New Britain.

He said: “The Archdiocese of Rabaul intends to continue operating Vunapope Hospital for as long as we can, and as long as its services are needed by the people.”

He referred to criticism that Vunapope had more doctors than some other centres, such as Kavieng.

He said Vunapope received financial assistance from the Public Health Department for only one of its four doctors and for 15 of its 30 trained nurses.

No PHD finance was given to assist in the operation of the hospital’s dentistry, laboratory and X-ray departments or its pharmacy and operating theatre.

He added: “No trainee allowance has been received for the Vunapope and Paparatava schools of nursing since June 30, 1976.

Hospital records showed that during 1976, the Vunapope dentist completed 600 fillings, 1500 extractions, supplied over 300 dentures and did 2800 other treatments.

The laboratory staff did more than 67,000 tests and then took 4500 X-rays.

The Vunapope surgeon performed more than 1000 operations, of which 200 were major.

Fr Barrow said these figures alone showed beyond any doubt that Vunapope was serving a great need in the area.

“These are figures for which we get no recognition by the Department of Public Health,” he said. Fr Barrow said he looked forward to a greater understanding from the Provincial Government.

Fr Barrow added that the Vunapope Hospital and the 16 other Catholic agency medical and nursing centres throughout New Britain were working in close harmony with the Department of Public Health.

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