Migende Rural Hospital in Simbu

Signboard at the entrance of the rural hospital

 I have always heard about this hospital as one of the shining lights of the PNG Health Care System. In my personal bias view of course, I assume that the success of this health facility is because of its roots in the Catholic Church and of course the Catholic Health Services. It is evident from observation that the health facility is taken care of by the people who work there. Mingende Rural Hospital, designated as a level 3 facility by the National Department of Health (NDoH), received its official status on November 30, 2001.

The facility was a recipient of the PNG Incentive Fund some 20 years ago. The Australian government through the PNG Incentive Fund put in infrastructure worth over K3.5 million. This included improvements to Power, potable water and transport facilities to rural health centres and aid posts, x-ray, dental and pathological facilities and resources at Mingende rural hospital. Also an isolation ward, ambulance, surgical theatre equipment, medical waste disposal facility and improved rainwater storage.

The front of the hospital

Tokpisin signboard

Once of the entrances to the hospital building

The hospital area

In Papua New Guinea, it is important to have each District has its own hospital. These district hospitals known as rural hospitals would provide much needed stabilsation for patients that come from health centres. That should be the way, but today, most people in rural districts just go to the Provincial Hospitals. 

From the hospital look back to the main gate

One of the health centre ambulance parks in front of the hospital

The main administration building entrance and walkway

Some rural hospitals in PNG include Warongoi in East New Britain Province, Kapuna in Gulf Province, Kikori in Gulf Province, Rumginae in Western Province, Kudjip in Western Highlands Province, Kompiam in Enga Province and Saint Mary's in East New Britain Province.  According to the PNG Society for Rural and Remote Health, some of them are of superb standards, some are very run down and unfortunately some don’t function at all. One thing they all have in common though – they all continue to need help.

The hospital area

Even today, as I walked around some parts of the facility, the place reflects the standard of the improvements. Those who know more of the facility or even those who work there will give a better story of the state of affairs but as someone who just walked in for a few hours, I can truly say that this health facility is better than some of the facilities I have seen in some provinces in PNG. The Kerowagi Government website even states that this 50 bed facility is the 'best equipped' health facility in the Kerowagi District.

The main administration building

The reception area in the main administration building

Mr. Frank Yagahe from DWU and Sr. Erikeve Kiae from Migende pose just after we completed a video interview

The reception area of the main administration building

Meeting my former Health Management student Francisca Aglua at the Hospital premises.

I was fortunate to learn that one of my former students is the Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer for the whole health facility. It is always good to see students have successful careers after they graduate from University and this M&E position is so important in providing data and information for the better management of the health facility. Congratutations Francisca!

My overall impression of the Migende Rural Hospital is that is a well managed health facility and will continue to grow. Like all health facilities across the country, it still needs consistent and adequate funding, infrastructure and specialist man power to keep it running smoothly.