Districts face logistics issues when delivering service

DISTRICTS in remote areas struggle to deliver services to their rural villages and communities, Middle Ramu MP Jonny Alonk says.
Alonk, also vice-minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, said his office chartered MAF flights from Mt Hagen, Western Highlands, to transport building materials to designated project sites in the district.
He said this was a huge expense as the fund from the Government was not enough to cater for an isolated district such as Middle Ramu.
“Despite the challenges, we deliver some projects that people can benefit in the areas of health, education and law and order,” he said.
The delivery of services to remote communities is arduous.
Development grants are consumed by air and sea transportation.
This is a grave concern to maritime provinces, districts including the highland areas of the country where there is little or no government presence.
Remote communities have dilapidated infrastructures, shortages of medical supplies and drugs, basic health equipment and education facilities.
Many teachers and health workers migrate to towns and cities because of poor roads and services into these areas.
The Government is focused on urban centres and does not do enough for rural areas where.
These shortcomings and successes were reflected in the Middle Ramu 2019 district services improvement programme (DSIP) annual financial expenditure report furnished to the Department of Implementation and Rural Development (Dird) last week.
District chief executive officer Barnabas Miukmang said they faced a lot of challenges when they tried to organise logistics to transport building materials for health, education and infrastructure projects.
Some of the impact projects include Simbai High School, Watebu Elementary School, Miami Elementary School, Water Supply Projects, Law and Order (rural lock up), court and police administrations, health centres and district/LLG markets.