Four doctors to leave Manokwari

Four doctors to leave Manokwari

MANOKWARI, Irian Jaya: Four doctors working in a local
hospital are set to leave Manokwari regency because they have not
received allowances to which they claim they are entitled.

Head of the local health office Abdul Kadar said on Thursday
that the doctors had resigned after they failed to receive
incentives ranging from Rp 3 million to Rp 7 million that were
given to other doctors serving in remote areas.

Maria Go, director of the Manokwari General Hospital, said
that the region currently had only three doctors working in the
community health centers (Puskesmas) in Bintuni, Wasior and
Oransbari.

Apart from that, Manokwari had 25 general practitioners, four
specialists, nine healthcare paramedics and three dentists
working in the hospital.

The lack of doctors had affected the health services provided
in hundreds of Puskesmas across the remote area.

Realizing that very few doctors are willing to work in remote
places, Maria has appealed to the government to provide
incentives to doctors and paramedics.--Antara

Two tourists die in Bali, Banyuwangi

DENPASAR, Bali: Two tourists were found dead in two separate
places on Wednesday, one in Buleleng, Bali, and the other in
Banyuwangi regency, East Java, police said on Thursday.

Buleleng Police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. M. Safei said one of the
tourists remained unidentified apart from the fact that he was a
91-year-old Dutch citizen, who died while vacationing on the
north coast of Bali.

The other dead tourist was named as Yosi Gumi Kihara, 68, from
Japan.

Gus Sumastra, head of the local Jasa Antarbangsa travel
agency, said that both bodies were being kept in Singaraja
Hospital morgue for autopsies and further arrangements.

Yosi's next of kin, who were also vacationing in Bali,
decided to have his body cremated in Nusa Dua, Bali, on Thursday,
and took his ashes back to Japan.

In 2001, 70 tourists died here of various ailments and as the
result of accidents. Of these, the remains of 50 were flown back
to their countries of origin while 20 others were cremated in
Mumbul, Bali.

In early February alone, seven tourists died while vacationing
in Bali and Banyuwangi of illnesses and due to accidents.--Antara