Clinic to benefit hundreds of East New Britain villagers

MORE than 600 people from the villages of Lausus, Tavolo and Makus in Pomio, East New Britain, last week celebrated the opening of their community health clinic.
The clinic was funded by Seacology, a US donor agency in exchange for a “four square kilometre no-take coastal marine conservation zone”.
The Tavolo people were paid K90,000 in July 2011 for their efforts on conservation.
The clinic will make access to health service easier for the people.
Forest certification manager and fiscal administrator of the project Cosmas Makamet said it was effort by the community on conservation that made the funding available.
“This facility will serve the people of Tavolo and the communities in Pomio and the partnership should also happen with projects in education and others,” he said.
Seacology project leader Peter Kikele said the Melkoi LLG and Pomio district would provide a community health worker to serve the 300-plus people.
“We are now working with the Pomio health coordinator to formalise the position of the community health worker and to register the facility under the government system.”
According to Kikele, the estimated cost of the project is K150,000.