Sepik hospital gets major upgrade

East Sepik governor Allan Bird and Wewak Town mayor Rennie Pierick cutting the ribbon to mark the official commencement of the construction of doctors houses in Boram, Wewak *(NBC News: Justice Sangkol)*

The people of East Sepik are set to benefit from improved healthcare services following the simultaneous commissioning and groundbreaking of several major health infrastructure projects at the Boram Provincial Specialist Hospital today.

The East Sepik Provincial Health Authority [ESPHA] officially commissioned a new medical ward to accommodate growing patient admissions, alongside a temporary services building housing a dispensary, pharmacy, and physiotherapy clinic.

ESPHA also installed two new standby generators to ensure uninterrupted electricity for critical hospital operations.

Additionally, two healthcare waste incinerators, funded through the collaborative support of UNICEF, Unops, and the World Bank, were commissioned to strengthen waste management protocols.

East Sepik PHA also recognized public health nurses through structural reclassification awards and paid out more than K2 million in outstanding service allowance entitlements to community health workers, covering the period from 2011 to 2024.

East Sepik Governor Allan Bird, accompanied by Wewak town mayor Renie Pierick and local leaders, officiated the event.

A women representative from the ESPHA board Collen Kumbre cutting the ribbon during the official launching of the temporary service building in the presence of East Sepik governor Allan Bird *(NBC News: Justice Sangkol)*

The delegation also performed the groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of 18 doctors' houses at Boram Point, a new accident, emergency and outpatient department building, and the sealing of the main access road serving the hospital and the ESPHA headquarters.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Bird commended the ESPHA board, chief executive officer Mathew Kaluvia, management, and development partners for their collaborative efforts.

He said their collective commitment had enabled the authority to deliver critical infrastructure that would drastically improve healthcare outcomes for the province.

Kaluvia said the developments formed part of the authority's strategic plan to modernize healthcare infrastructure, improve front-line service delivery, and expand access to quality medical care across East Sepik.