Concerns have been raised over the ongoing unreliable power supply at Yampu Catholic Health Centre, with healthcare workers warning that the situation is severely affecting the delivery of essential medical services to thousands of people across Enga Province.
The health facility, which serves communities from Mulitaka, Porgera, Kandep, Wapenamanda, Laiagam, Ambum Kompiam, and Wabag Central, has been struggling with electricity shortages following the failure of its hydroelectric power system.
According to concerned staff, who did not want to disclose their names, the health center previously relied on a hydro dam system for electricity.
However, the turbine became damaged and rusted over time, causing the system to cease operations.
Although PNG Power has connected electricity lines to the area, staff say power supply to the health center remains unreliable and insufficient to meet the facility’s daily operational needs.
As a result, the health center now depends largely on a standby generator, which is reportedly shut down around 1:30pm each day, leaving many critical services without power.
Healthcare workers say the lack of electricity is disrupting laboratory services, affecting the storage of vaccines and medicines, and limiting the facility’s ability to respond effectively to medical emergencies.
“When the generator is turned off, patients are unable to complete laboratory blood tests, while asthma patients requiring oxygen or nebulizer treatment face serious challenges during emergencies,” a concerned staff member told us.
Staff also reported that inpatients are unable to access hot water for bathing and that refrigeration units used to preserve temperature-sensitive medical supplies cannot operate consistently.
The health center is regarded as one of the key healthcare facilities in the province, providing treatment and emergency services to a large population across several districts.
Healthcare workers have appealed to the Enga Provincial Government, PNG Power Limited, New Porgera Limited, local Members of Parliament and other relevant authorities to urgently address the power crisis.
They say restoring a reliable and sustainable power supply is critical to ensuring uninterrupted healthcare services and safeguarding the wellbeing of communities that depend on the facility.
“Reliable electricity means reliable healthcare, and reliable healthcare saves lives,” the staff member said.
The concerned workers are also calling on community leaders, stakeholders and members of the public to support efforts aimed at finding a lasting solution to the ongoing power supply challenges at Yampu Catholic Health Centre.