31 July 2014
Australian support for ANGAU Memorial General Hospital
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Deputy Secretary, Mr Ewen McDonald, today visited the ANGAU Hospital, which Australia and Papua New Guinea are jointly redeveloping to provide a tertiary level hospital facility for Morobe and the Momase Region.
Under the Joint Understanding of Further Bilateral Cooperation on Health, Education and Law and Order, Australia has committed up to 430 million kina (up to 187.5 million Australian dollars) to the hospital’s reconstruction, an amount which will be matched by Papua New Guinea.
The Chief Secretary to Government, Sir Manasupe Zurenuoc, Kt., OBE, said that in 2013, the Government decided to redevelop the ANGAU Hospital into a bigger modern hospital equipped with specialist equipment for the city and the region, in agreement with Australia.
“This is a vital health infrastructure that will serve a region that is experiencing one of the fastest population growth rates in the country,” Sir Manasupe said.
Following the visit of the Prime Minister, Hon. Peter O’Neill, early this year, the National Government decided to immediately fund emergency works at the hospital which will complement the Government’s long-term vision for the ANGAU Hospital.
Sir Manasupe thanked the Australian Government and its people for its continued support to PNG’s development and acknowledged that the ANGAU Hospital Redevelopment Project will be one of Australia’s biggest projects under its aid program.
Australia will also provide funds to help put in place a senior management and medical team to help run the ANGAU Hospital. Australia’s funding commitment represents the largest single infrastructure project ever undertaken by Australia’s aid program.
As a first step towards the redevelopment, a comprehensive master planning process is now underway and will be completed in May 2015. The master plan will provide both Australia and PNG a number of options for the hospital redevelopment and will set out the ongoing cost and staffing requirements to ensure the ANGAU Hospital can deliver the health services expected by the people of the Momase Region
“Good planning is vital for a significant infrastructure project such as ANGAU. We need to ensure our investment results in a hospital which meets the needs of the people of Morobe and the Momase Region,” Mr McDonald said.
“I am pleased that PNG is already committing funds to address emergency works at ANGAU hospital.”
The master plan will be completed in May 2015, with the design for the preferred option completed by mid-2016. Construction of the new ANGAU Hospital is expected to commence in early 2017.
“I share the views of Mr McDonald and confirm the National Government’s commitment to the partnership as agreed to by our Prime Ministers under the Joint Understanding,” Sir Manasupe said.