Lae doctor dies at inquiry

Source: The National, 26th October 2011 By JEFFREY ELAPA A MEDICAL doctor and administrator died while presenting the Morobe health status report to the Public Accounts Committee at Parliament House yesterday. The sudden death of Dr Likei Theo forced the cancellation of the PAC inquiry into the health status of the country. It was adjourned to next month by committee chairman Malakai Tabar, the MP for Gazelle. Theo was the Morobe provincial health adviser for more than 27 years and a medical doctor who had served in provinces around the country. Yesterday, Theo collapsed while presenting his report on the poor and deteriorating health services before the committee. During his presentation, he was emotional as he outlined the lack of quality health servi­ces. And, as a person who had been dealing with such poor health services, Theo stressed the need to improve the service to assist the many rural and disadvantaged communities. Theo said over the years, funding and poor health services in PNG had never improved despite the government coming up with diffe­rent development plans. He pointed out that funding for health in Morobe was the worst despite the high population, which is next to the Southern Highlands when including the Hela region was included. In his budget allocation report, Theo said proper budget planning had been done without his input because it was always hijacked at the provincial and national level, with no conside­ration on the health issues affecting the people. He spoke passionately while recalling the difficulties he faced and the poor health conditions of the rural people disadvantaged by geographical features, over-population and insufficient funding over the years. At around 11.45am, Theo collapsed and was rushed to the Port Moresby General Hospital after the medical doctors present unsuccessfully tried to revive him. He was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. Doctors present condemned parliament for the poor emergency evacuation plans and lack of first aid and medical staff. Chief secretary Manasupe Zurenuoc, who was present at the inquiry, said Theo was a healthy and experienced health administrator who had served eight years as the provincial administrator. Theo was from Sio village in Siassi and served as a medical doctor before taking up the provincial health adviser’s position in 1983.