Central district to have hospital hospital

 By ELIZABETH MIAE

RIGO district in Central will have its own hospital following a ground breaking ceremony at the Kwikila station last Friday. 

The US$5.5 million (K12.5 million) project, funded by the government of the Republic of Korea through the Korea International Cooperative Agency (KOICA), is expected to be completed at the end of the year by Midas Home Construction Ltd.

The new hospital will replace the Kwikila health centre that was built about 50 years ago and is currently serving the people in the district.

The event was attended by Health and HIV/AIDS Minister Michael Malabag, Health Secretary Pascoe Kase, Central Governor Kila Haoda, Transport Minister and Rigo MP Ano Pala and KOICA officials.

Pala told his people to celebrate as it would be the first time that they would have their own hospital. 

He said the hospital was an achievement for Rigo and would also serve other districts. 

He said health, education and infrastructures were three important pillars that needed implementation to move the country and the district forward. 

“The basic foundation of those three pillars is a good public service system because without quality people, we cannot move the country forward,” Pala said.

“It is the whole system that delivers and we look forward to it because the health department and the Korean government have confidence in us.”

He assured his people that the foundations have been set to fix the problems in the district and it would be the public service system of progress that would bring development.

Pala also mentioned the support from his fellow MPs from the Southern region that have formed the Papuan block in the coalition government to work together to move their districts and provinces forward.

Rigo district administrator Iobu Lalaivaina commended Pala and the PNG and Korean governments for the project.

He urged the Rigo people to look after the new hospital.