The Western Highlands Provincial Health Authority (WHPHA) regrets to advise the public that the current level of services in all WHPHA-run health facilities will not be fully sustained due to the current financial constraints faced by the country.

Acting Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Paulus Ripa said as a result of this situation, some of the services provided by the WHPHA in its rural facilities as well as at the Mt Hagen Hospital would be reduced.

“This is an unfortunate situation where WHPHA as the provider of health care services in our province is forced to take such action as we cannot operate without sufficient financial resources”, Dr. Ripa said.

He said this year the government had made available only 65 percent of the total amount allocated under the WHPHA’s operational budget and this was not enough to keep all operations functional.

He said services in all facilities that were likely to be affected included out-patients and in-patients, immunization programs, health promotion and maternal and child health clinics among others.

Dr. Ripa said emergencies would be attended to as usual but other services such as those mentioned would be reduced and urged the public to look after themselves well and avoid situations or conditions where they may get sick.

He said the Caretaker Board and Senior Management of the WHPHA were working hard to secure additional funding and the Interim Board Chairman and Provincial Administrator, Mr. Joseph Neng said he hoped local Members of Parliament would support the health services in the province.