The
February 19 - March 4, 2025
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Kaselehlie Press
The
February 19, 2025
Free bi-weekly publication
KASELEHLIE PRESS PO Box 2222 Kolonia, Pohnpei, FM 96941
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Vol. 25 Issue No. 5
(691) 320-6547
Governor calls for cohesion amid Legislative inaction on Pohnpei DHSS supplemental budget request for medicines By Bill Jaynes The Kaselehlie Press February 17, 2025 (EDITOR’S NOTE: Just before publication the following message appeared on the Pohnpei State Department of Health and Social Services significantly updating the status of the following article: “On behalf of Pohnpei State Hospital and our patients, we extend our deepest gratitude to the Joseph and Ioanis Administration and the Pohnpei State Legislature for their unwavering support in approving our budget request for essential medications. Your commitment to the health and well-being of our people is truly commendable, and this decision ensures that our hospital remains equipped to provide the highest standard of care. “With this support, we are pleased to inform the public that all essential
medications are now in stock at Pohnpei State Hospital. This achievement reflects what we can accomplish when we work together with a shared vision for the betterment of our community.
last week to provide $37,000 worth of medications to the hospital, Pohnpei DHSS Director Penias said that amount would last a little less than two months. Meanwhile, a supplemental budget request of $250,000 to purchase medicines for the rest of the “Let us continue to stand united in our year, which he submitted to both the Chair efforts to strengthen healthcare for all. of the Pohnpei State Legislature’s (PSL) Kalahngan lap!) Committee on Health and to Governor Stevenson Joseph, remained unaddressed Pohnpei— On February 7, the Pohnpei by the Legislature. Department of Health and Social Services (DHSS) issued a post on its Facebook page Though we were able to interview Governor apologizing for a shortage of medications at Joseph on the morning of February 16, we the Pohnpei State Hospital. The post stated were again unable to secure an interview that DHSS had submitted a supplemental with PSL Speaker Marvin Yamaguchi budget request to the Pohnpei State in time for this publication. Speaker Legislature in December, but no action Yamaguchi relayed his comments on the had been taken. “We kindly ask for your matter through his public information support in urging our leaders to prioritize officer (PIO). The Speaker instructed the this urgent matter. Access to necessary PIO to inform us that the Legislature had medications should not be postponed—it received no official communication from is a critical healthcare need that affects our the Governor regarding the supplemental entire community,” the post said. budget request. The PIO said the Speaker only recently heard about a potential While the FSM Department of Health and Social Affairs graciously stepped in late Click here for continuation on page 4
FSM media practitioners shore up skills with ABC trainers
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