Care centre unfit, says health chief

THE Morobe provincial health adviser has warned that the Bulolo care centre may soon be condemned for health reasons.
Dr Likei Theo said yesterday that health conditions at the centre were such that it had to be condemned.
Theo was in Bulolo last week for his health visit programmes to all the districts.
He visited the care centre and inspected the water supply systems, latrine facilities, rubbish disposal system, cooking facilities and handling, lodging facilities (tents) and addressed other social issues.
Although the centre was predominantly occupied by Sepiks, there were other people from all over the country, including West Papuans, who made up the 5,062 people living at the centre.
Theo said the water treatment system using chlorine could not be guaranteed safe because the 1,000-litre tank used to store water would dry up faster and needed to be refilled regularly.
He said the toilets were not enough to cater for the population and people tended to use the surrounding shrubs.
The tarpaulin tent were vulnerable to damage and leakage during heavy rains and falling foliage of the rain trees.
Theo said food rations were 2.5kg of rice and two 250g of tinned fish a day which was equivalent to one meal for 13 people, which, according to him, was insufficient.
“I am really concerned and we, the local health authorities, would be forced to close the centre if worse comes to worse,” he added.
He said the centre was supposed to be only “for about a month or less”, but it had gone into almost six months.
“I strongly call on the prime minister and NEC Department, health minister, national and provincial disaster offices and other concerned authorities to speed up whatever actions they are planning to help rid this situation,” Theo said.
He said that the care centre looked more “like a mini-refugee camp where the victims are awaiting their fate while countries tussle as to who will take them on board”.
He urged NGO groups, business houses and others to pitch in and help because the situation was seriously unhygienic with legal implications.
“I know a health situation (crisis) when I see one, and the case at Bulolo is no exception,” Theo said.