Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Hospital remains open

The Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Hospital is still operational despite speculation that it shut down due to a water crisis situation.

Simbu Provincial Health Authority Director of Corporate Services, Henry Kua confirmed to NBC News that the water issue has been addressed, and this has not disrupted the operations of the hospital.

"I want to assure the people of Simbu and the general public that the hospital is fully functional and we are committed to provid uninterrupted healthcare services," he said.

He said, "the hospital is not shutting down, the current water situation is manageable, and we are actively addressing the root cause."

Kua explained that the issue stemmed from the plumbing problems within the reservoir's water pump system.

"We have two pumps inside the reservoir. One is experiencing significant wear and tear and is not pumping water effectively. The other is consequently overloaded, causing a slowdown in water flow," he clarified.

He said a new pump was purchased and water supply restored.

"Everything is okay. There is nothing to make an issue about. The necessary work is complete, and full water capacity was restored", Mr Kua said.

Kua has urged that the community rely on official statements from the hospital and Simbu PHA and not spread false information.