Emergency health unit on standby

By Rebecca Kuku
AN emergency response unit has been set up at the Muli Health Sub-Centre in the Ialibu-Pangia district of Southern Highlands to assist earthquake victims.
Health extension officer Alphonse Sambai said they were on standby for any emergency at the centre because they didn’t have the resources to move out to the villages.
“So far we have no reported cases of casualties of the earthquake in the Kewabi LLG of the Ialibu-Pangia district,” he said.
“However, some roads and houses have been destroyed and some are buried underground with landslips all throughout the Kewabi area.
“The main Yalo River has changed in colour and has started to give off a foul smell.”
Sambai said fish and marine life were dying and floating on the surface of the water.
“We have warned nearby communities to not consume any fish from the river as it may pose a risk to their health, and we have also advised the public to not use the rivers for cooking, drinking and washing.”
Sambai said people were traumatised and were living in fear as aftershocks continued after last week’s magnitude 7.5 quake in the central Highlands area.