Covid-19 checkpoint set up at Kassam Pass

By ZACHERY PER
THE Covid-19 checkpoint at Kassam Pass section of the Highlands Highway that borders Morobe and Eastern Highlands was launched on Tuesday.
The main purpose of checkpoint was to monitor the vehicles including cargo and people coming into the Highlands from neighbouring Madang and Morobe during the state of emergency.
Eastern Highlands police personnel and health workers from the provincial health authority (PHA) will be stationed at the checkpoint to conduct medical checks on passengers and drivers.
The checkpoint would also monitor travellers heading to Morobe and Madang from the Highlands.
The establishment of the checkpoint follows a meeting among MPs, the PHA, PPC, provincial administration and stakeholders as a requirement to monitor the borders of Eastern Highlands as the entry point into Highlands – supported by Daulo and Obura-Wonenara MPs.
Obura-Wonenara MP Mehrra Kipefa said it was important to closely monitor travel between the regions.
“This would be the first check point to ensure safety of people and the entire Highlands who will be coming through this point to identify persons of interest for symptoms of the Covid-19,” Kipefa said.
He said any persons of interest found at the roadblock would immediately be referred to the nearby Evangelical Brotherhood church health centre at Yonki.
He acknowledged the Obura-Wonenara administration, PNG Power Ltd, PHA, PPC, EBC health services, local MPs and the governor for the combined effort to establish a border control.