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