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By PETER MIVA
MOROBE provincial health authorities have issued a final eviction notice
for Buimo jail staff to vacate their houses within 21 days as they are
unfit for human occupation.
Dr Likei Theo, head of the Morobe Division of Health, issued the notice
with intention to evict the tenants within 21 days last Wednesday to
Buimo jail commander Chief Supt Samson Jaro.
Dr Theo in his notice stated that his action followed combined
provincial health and building inspection to Buimo jail staff houses and
sewerage system on March 20.
He said that a report was submitted for improvement and a follow-up
inspection was carried out by the same inspection team on Sept 27 to
ascertain if improvements had been effected as recommended in the
report.
This, he said, was also in line with a National Court order for the
Correctional Services Department and the Morobe government to renovate
and maintain all staff houses and improve its water supply and sewerage
systems.
The National Court order expired on Sept 23.
Dr Theo said the recent inspection showed no such maintenance to these
facilities and the state of the houses was in such conditions as to be
dangerous to the health of the staff and their families.
He said health records showed that Buimo jail health clinic showed that
between March and August, there were 424 cases of malaria and related
dysentery, 209 cases of influenza and 69 cases of diarrhoea, among other
diseases.
“The sanitary condition that exists in the staff houses by reason of
structural defect and the appalling state of the sewerage system render
the jail staff houses as unfit for human habitation,” Dr Theo said.
“I hereby give official notice to evict Buimo jail staff and their
families from their houses within 21 days upon receipt of this notice
unless the National Government, the CS Department and Morobe government
take immediate action to improve staff housing, water supply and
sewerage system.”
Dr Theo said this was the final notice as the well-being of the staff
and their families was a fundamental right and should not be taken
lightly.
Copies of the notice have been served on the CS Commissioner Richard
Sikani, Morobe Governor Luther Wenge, the National Court, Morobe
administrator Manasupe Zurenuoc and chairman of the Morobe building
board.
 
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