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DPH officials to meet experts on forensic next month
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Posted on Feb 19 2001
In efforts to upgrade its medical services, officials of the Department of Public Health disclosed Friday that a meeting with Hawaii-based forensic experts will pave the road for the mapping out of effective forensic services for the CNMI.
DPH Secretary Kevin Villagomez said a team from the health department and representatives form the Attorney General’s Office has scheduled a meeting with officials of a forensic facility in Hawaii next month.
The meeting is expected to yield the needed tailor-made programs patterned after the Honolulu-forensic facility, including structures and policies needed for the immediate implementation of the program.
Mr. Villagomez said the program is part of the continuing efforts on the part of the department to improve and upgrade its facilities in hopes to better serve the CNMI people.
In addition, Mr. Villagomez said the department is also finalizing the architectural design of the hemodialysis facility project of DPH. The project will be out for bidding the soonest possible time, he said.
The secretary also disclosed that following concerns on morgue services and problems which erupted late last year, several heads of the division were relieved from their position.
He explained that apart from administrative sanctions, key officials were terminated. The decision was made to alert staff of the DPH that termination will be meted if key functions are not delivered.
“These are responsibilities that they are entrusted with, if they won’t take it seriously, they will be replaced,” the health secretary warned.
Last year, the department was rocked by simultaneous controversies from missing baby to morgue incidents that health officials were forced to implement stricter measures to protect the integrity of DPH.
Mr. Villagomez said that apart from facility improvements, the DPH is also addressing concerns on manpower deficit.
