PM Marape Apologizes to Church-run Health Workers

PRIME Minister James Marape has apologised to workers in church-run health facilities for the four-month non-payment of their salaries, saying K20 million has now been paid for that purpose.
“I know that K20 million has been given to pay the Church Health Services (CHS) providers. I apologise if it had taken time to come through,” he said.
But CHS chief executive officer Ulch Tapia said while the cheque for K20 million was given to the churches last Friday, they were told to deposit it yesterday.

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“We were advised to deposit the cheque today (yesterday) and hope it clears today or by Monday because sometimes the cheque bounces,” he said.
“And this is only for March.
“The funds for three months (May to July) are still outstanding.”
The CHS will get K7.9 million while the Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS) gets K12.1 million from the K20mil.
Many health facilities around the country run by churches have either closed down or scaled down services effecting hundreds especially in rural areas around the country who depend on them.
Tapia said they would continue the closure or scaling down of services until the Government settled the full amount owed to them from February to June.
It is understood the total is around K60 million.
The Catholic Archbishop of Madang Anton Bal said the Government should not neglect health workers.

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