The crew of six doctors and nurses from the organization, also known by its French name of Medecins Sans Frontieres flew, from Tari in PNG’s Highlands region to the capital Port Moresby on a chartered flight on Sunday, six months into what was supposed to be more than a year working in the town.
A male Doctors Without Borders staffer needed stitches for a wound to the ear while a female colleague suffered bruising, PNG’s National newspaper reports.
A hospital security guard arrived on Saturday night at Tari Hospital drunk and was asked to go home. He refused and then attacked members of the MSF group before smashing the windshield of a car belonging to the group.
Tari Hospital chief Dr. Bravy Koensbong confirmed the incident and admitted there was an alcohol problem in the area.
Services that had been lacking for 15 years were being provided by MSF, he said.
“We worked hard to rebuild this place with the help of MSF, and we do not need this,” he said. “In the last five months, things have really improved, especially the hospital ground and facilities, and the patient referral system is functioning,” he said.
“There is a big problem with alcohol and drugs. “About 70 per cent of violence here is related to alcohol and drugs. There should be a liquor ban here.”
The local community handed over the suspect to police and are calling for MSF to return. MSF is an independent international medical organization providing health aid to some of the world’s most needy.
