Fly launches health programme

 A K43 MILLION health development programme has been launched to improve the delivery of health care for people in South Fly, Western.

It will improve health centres and staff housing, staffing, the supply of equipment and medicine, awareness and the delivery of primary health care for South Fly people.

The five-year South Fly Community Mine Continuation Agreement (CMCA) area programme was launched late last month at Kautru village by Western Governor Ati Wobiro and Ok Tedi Development Foundation Ltd (OTDF) chairman Nigel Parker.

The foundation said in a statement the programme was part of the K43 middle Middle and South Fly health development programme. 

“It is targeted at funding the provision of desperately-needed primary health care to ensure that general health services are affordable and consistent with community values while encouraging community participation,” the statement said.

Wobiro thanked the CMCA people and OTDF for improving health services in the province and urged the people to work together with development partners such as OTDF and Ok Tedi Mining Ltd (OTML).

Parker, who is the managing director and chief executive officer of OTML, said the health programme would significantly improve the health standards of the people of South Fly region.  

“This programme is being funded by the people themselves through their community funds and it’s the result of the communities saying we need our health improved,” Parker said.

“I am also very pleased that we have Wobiro as our governor because we have been hamstrung by the lack of political will for many years in the province. 

“We do need the political support and we are getting that political support through  Wobiro.”