Fire destroys health centre buildings in Esa’ala district

At least four patients were safely evacuated from a burning health center outpatient building in the early hours of Thursday morning at Esa’ala District’s Mapamoiwa sub headquarters in Milne Bay Province.

At this stage, it’s not clear what started the fire, but it has burnt to ashes the administration building and the adjoining outpatient ward.

The Area Manager at Mapamoiwa station Dianne Tabutuya tells NBC News, the fire started just past midnight on Thursday and as it engulfed the buildings with health center supplies including medicine and oxygen tanks, leaving them helpless as they watched on.

The health center, manned by 8 staff serves three zones including Morima, Kukuya and the inlands on Fergusson Island and this loss may hinder services for people here.

Tabutya confirms while service may continue via alternate options they will come up with, it may be scaled down to emergencies only given all was lost.

Meantime, the Milne Bay Health Authority confirms a health team from their Esa’ala District Health Center was sent to Mapamoiwa the same day to understand the situation on hand.

CEO Dr Perista Mamadi tells NBC News, they were also there to establish clinical pathways for patients while they work on replacing the infrastructure via the help of the district.

A new maternity ward was recently built next to those that burnt, it was thankfully spared.