Envoy visits WNB project sites

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AUSTRALIAN High Commissioner Bruce Davis visited several projects, including a new health facility and a cocoa rehabilitation project supported by the Australian government, during a trip to West New Britain over the last week.
Davis was joined by West New Britain Governor Sasindran Muthuvel and Talasea MP Francis Maneke.
Talasea is one of six priority districts under Australia’s decentralisation partnership with PNG and the delegation received a briefing on the new cocoa rehabilitation project under a jointly developed Kina Bungim Komuniti Programme.
While in Talasea, the group also visited Mama’s Foundation Meri Seif Haus, Caritas Girls’ Secondary School, Kimbe General Hospital, Mahonia na Dari Marine Conservation Centre and remote health clinics at Valoka and Malalia.
Davis visited New Britain Palm Oil Ltd and Hargy Oil Palm and inspected processing facilities and a biofuel renewable energy project.
He also joined an Independence Day anniversary reception in Kimbe attended by Grand Chief Sir Michael Somare.
Davis saw the new Baia Community Health Post (CHP) that will serve more than 4000 people in the vicinity of Baia village.
The CHP will include specialist remote area medical facilities, a delivery and post-natal room, toilets and washing facilities and new staff housing.
Thirty two CHPs are being constructed across PNG under a US$81.2 million (K264.8m) Rural Primary Health Service Delivery Project (RPHSDP). This initiative supports the national government’s long-term vision to transform the health system, especially to improve the health of rural populations. Four CHPs are being delivered in West New Britain – at Baia, Vatukele, Wako and Akonga.
The RPHSDP is supported by Australia as a major contributor, as well as the Asian Development Bank, OPEC Fund for International Development, Japan International Cooperation Agency and World Health Organisation.
The high commissioner then travelled to East New Britain (ENB) where he was joined by the Minister for Police and Gazelle MP Jelta Wong and Governor Nakikus Konga. Davis celebrated the anniversary in rural ENB.