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By ANDREW ALPHONSE
THE 5th annual Hela health and agriculture show staged in Tari last week
has been hailed for promoting the “true spirit” of independence as it
strives for healthy and sustainable lifestyles among the rural Hela
communities.
Those were the remarks made by National Health secretary Dr Clement
Malau and Hela MPs James Marabe (Tari-Pori) and John Kekeno (Koroba-Lake
Kopiago) at the closing ceremony last Friday.
The show was an initiative of non-governmental organisation, the Tari
Community Based Health Care (CBHC).
CBHC is a division of the PNG Nazarene church health ministries that
promotes a healthy and sustainable lifestyle among rural communities in
the country through a holistic approach.
Dr Malau was very impressed with the show and the work of CBHC and said
that the show promoteed the National Health Department’s PNG Healthy
Island Concept 2001-10.
He said CBHC’s involvement in educating and empowering people to live in
clean homes, developing proper personal hygiene, have access to clean
water supply, proper toilets and waste disposal, growing of fresh
fruits, raising different animals and fish not only helped them to live
sustainable lifestyles but also contributed to economic growth and
poverty alleviation.
Mr Marabe said when government health services collapsed in the region
in the last 15 years, CBHC and its mission had been the way forward for
the Hela people as it empowered them to adapt to preventable health
methods.
He promised to assist CBHC in the future by including the event in the
PNG Tourism Promotion Authority’s calendar in order to lure overseas
tourists to experience Hela’s vast and unique cultural displays.
The two-day event which attracted over 12,000 people had more than 500
farmers displaying their farm produce that went up for “mad and crazy
sales” prices.
The best farmers and produce were awarded prizes.
 
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