The President of the National Doctors Association (NDA) Dr. James Naipao has spoken out on the inhumane behaviour carried out by criminals after a senior doctor at the Enga Provincial Hospital was attacked at the early hours of the morning while at his home.
In the early hours of Thursday, 3rd November at around 1am Dr. Kanandru Pondros, the Deputy Director Medical Services at the Enga Provincial Hospital & Acting Director Curative Health Services of the Enga Provincial Health Authority, was attacked in front of the gate to his house by criminals.
He was attacked and sustained wounds to his head, face and other parts of his body and was rushed to the hospital. According to Dr. Naipao, Dr. Pondros was rushed to the hospital and immediately attended to by the two senior surgeons at the hospital.
“The health workers on the ground, including doctors who are members of the National Doctors Association, condemned the manner in which this senior defenseless doctor was attacked,” Naipao said in his statement.
He is now calling upon the general public, communities and tribes along with the security forces to collaborate and arrest those involved in this outrageous crime.
At present Police in Enga, the PNG Defense force personnel, and the neighbouring tribes are providing security at the hospital and the Wabag Township, while the family of Dr. Pondros has been safely relocated.
NDA is closely monitoring the situation and Dr. Naipao has sent a stern warning to the general public that should there be no justice, serious measures will be taken by the NDA.
“Police should not let go the six culprits until the rule of law reaches its full course of justice. If this does not happen, the newly built level 5/6 provincial or stand-alone tertiary hospital may not attract Non-Engan health workers to this hospital,” he said.
He further stated that once a friendly, receiving and caring province to visitors is slowly losing this great asset and he is urging the Provincial Government to come out and explain how they intend on addressing these issues.
“Recently government security personnel, government workers, private sector workers and citizens of this country have been victims of violence. Law and Order is one of the main denominator of prosperity and economic development. Government at the LLG, District, Province and nationally must aggressively address this,” Naipao reiterated in his statement.
“The country has lost 40 doctors through the 2022 National General Election, and the undemocratic and dictatorial law passed to make public servant return after five years will widened the doctor to population ratio, and the ratio greatly widened by the passing of 35 doctors who have died in the last three years alone.”