THE Hagahai people who live in a remote part of Madang province are a race, discovered in 1983, by researchers of the PNG Institute of Medial Research (PNGIMR), a government research institute.
After their discovery scientists discovered a unique virus in their blood and further tests in the United States of America revealed that the virus could be used to cure diseases and infections.
In 1991, a Patent Application was filed, allegedly secretly, by U.S government researchers named as inventors and on May 1995 the U.S Patent and Trademark Office issued patent # 5,397,696.
According to Joe Bolo Alkan, a man who is initiating ways to bring development to the Hagahai’s, the tribesmen were never named anywhere in the patent as beneficiaries, although they were verbally promised 50 per cent of any royalties that would be made.
Mr Alkan said to date nobody seems to know what had happened to the patent and the virus.
Mr Alkan became involved with the Hagahai people in 1993 when he adopted a son from there, named Nipuwa Masipe.
Mr. Alkan was at that time a headmaster of a school in Western Highlands when he first met Nipuwa, who was enrolled there.
He first went in Hagahai territory in 1994 with his adopted son. Seeing the plight of the people, he resigned in 1998 and committed himself to doing something to bring development to the people.
Years later his commitment has materialised into what is known as the Hagahai Community Development Foundation.
Mr. Alkan who is the Managing Director said the Foundation aims to initiate development projects in the area to improve the people’s standard of living.
Seven projects have been identified, they are: health centre, community/primary school, housing project, water supply, footbridges, rural electrification and sustainable income generating activities.
Mr. Alkan has approached the Madang provincial government and Madang MP’s about the Foundation and is happy with their interest and support so far.
He recently came to Port Moresby to seek an audience with the Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare to seek seed funding to help kick start the projects.
He met with Sir Michael on January 29 and is satisfied that the leader of this country is aware of the plight of the Hagahai’s who are Papua New Guineans and therefore have as much right to development as their fellow citizens.
The Foundation will be launched on March 27 and 28 and he said they needed about K500,000 to kick start the projects.
Mr Alkan said the scope of the projects are quite substantial and one particular donor may not have the financial capacity to fund everything, so the executives have decided to approach a number of donor agencies for assistance.
He said the Foundation executives will oversee the implementation of the projects, planned in stages, over a period of time.
“The Hagahai’s are remote, the area is only accessible by light aircraft, they have a lot of agricultural produce, like coffee, peanuts that are just rotting away,” he said.
He said in October last year, he approached the Madang provincial government to charter an aircraft to bring peanuts from the area to the market.
“The provincial government chartered a Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) aircraft and I brought out 10 peanut bags from there which I sold and made K500. This money was taken back and given to the owners of the peanuts who were very happy,”
Mr. Alkan acknowledged the support he has received from Madang governor Sir Arnold Amet, Commerce and Industry advisor Bul Dulau, personal assistant to Madang administrator Henry Hantan, deputy adiministrator technical services Ben Lange, Middle Ramu MP Ben Semri, the national Commerce Minister Gabriel Kapris and Registrar of Co-operative Societies, Joseph Ingiba.
“On behalf of the Hagahai people I want to thank these people who have had time to listen to our needs and offer advice and assistance when we needed it,” he said.
Mr. Alkan said as part of the Hagahai’s plan to initiate development, the Foundation has also resolved to dig out the truth regarding the patenting of their blood.
“We have asked various people and organizations to assist us in the campaign
“It is hoped that if there was any money made out of the Hagahai people’s blood that they get to benefit from it,” he said

 

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