Aidpost incomplete

National

By HEZRON KISING
THE delay in completing an aid post in Nawaeb, Morobe, has forced villagers and nearby communities to travel long distances to receive basic health services.
Martin Kisa, a village elder and former ward councillor of Nabak local level government raised the concern after funds allocated to complete the aid post were released by local MP Kennedy Wenge through the district development authority (DDA) but has yet to be completed.
Kisa said seven villages – Lambaip, Kemen, Kalangan, Bambok, Kwewiriling and Monekasat – had over 1,000 people and they usually travelled to Boana station to receive healthcare services.
“Aid posts in other villages in the LLG are not operating since all community health workers have left,” he said.
“I am concerned about the health of my people.
“With the academic year already started, such services are vital for everyone.”
Kemen Primary School head teacher Dogi Labo said in the past, when students fell sick during school, they had to be sent home so their parents could take them to Lae or Boana for medical attention.
“Also, when a teacher or one of his family members falls sick, the teacher will have to leave his class (students) for Lae to get medication.”
Labo said while the teachers were seeking medical attention in Lae, students’ learning was affected.
Nawaeb chief executive officer James Neapukali told The National that the DDA had allocated K200,000 for the building to contractor Ziven Building Construction.
Neapukali said last December, a team of officers, with two building inspectors from the provincial works office, had been sent to inspect the site and the contractor was at project site putting up the structure and all major tasks had been completed.
He said a cost variation of K50,000 was reported by the team to complete the project.
He said the money was allocated to buy other materials needed to complete the building.
Neapukali said he was awaiting a report from the MP’s office on the progress of work.
Ziven Building Construction owner Dima Diwing said all major construction on the building had been completed.
“The water supply from the village will be connected to the building
for the toilets and bathrooms,” he said.
“Work on sewage is the thing that’s needed to be completed.”
Diwing said the delay was with the employees who left while he was in Lae, so he engaged other builders (workers) who would leave for the project site next week to complete the final phase.