Aid post upgraded to community health post

By PETER WARI
A UNITED church-run aid post in Kandep, Enga, has been upgraded to a community health post which now will have two additional staff and a maternity care centre.
The Wakipa community health post, near the border with Margarima, in neighbouring Hela, was opened on Monday by Kandep MP Alfred Manase.
Manase, who helped fund the upgrading with K50,000, was joined by Hela United church bishop Stephen Abai, Kandep administrator Ben Besawe, district medical superintendent Dr Robert Imambu and local level government presidents.
Imambu told The National that Wakipa had no road links and was only accessible by air or on foot.
He commended Manase for his effort to improve health services in the area and for working in concert with the Enga health authority (PHA).
“The Kandep development authority (DDA), under the leadership of Manase, will also sponsor a community health worker to complete her studies and also meet the cost of the presiding community health worker for relief travel to his village,” he said.
Manase said ensuring health services were provided was important but building roads for people to access healthcare and other services was equally important. He acknowledged the work of the churches in providing health and education services to people in rural communities.