Daru residents at high risk

THOUSANDS of residents on Daru Island are at “very high risk” of contracting cholera and leaders cannot ignore the plea of the people to come with government assistance, South Fly MP Sali Subam said.
He said the continuous migration of people had caused overcrowding on the island, posing a great threat to people’s lives.
“In one household there are about 10 to 15 people living under one roof without proper drinking water and reliable sewage system,” he said.
In a news conference in Port Moresby yesterday, he highlighted that all activities would remain suspended for an indefinite period.
Subam also said that he had allocated K345,000 to contain the out break on Daru Island.
“A further K800,000 has been approved to seek funds from outside sources as PNG Sustainable Development Program to assist the district fight the outbreak,” he said.
He also revealed that provincial and district health authorities had already alerted leaders and a hospital cholera response committee was established.
“This committee has been established apart from the provincial committee who has discussed in length their approach and strategies to combat this disease outbreak,” he said.
He added the allocation would be used to combat the disease to stop the source of the disease by visiting the corners (settlements) and investigate their drinking water source and waste disposal methods. 
Subam confirmed the report in The National’s front page yesterday, adding schools and other major activities had been suspended since the chorea out break.
He said this included all the schools, organisation and church activities that were planned in the district.