Hela supports health sector

BY GYNNIE KERO
HELA Governor Francis Potape says the provincial government is committed towards supporting the health sector despite law and order issues in the province.
He said this following the launching of the Hela Provincial Health Authority in Tari last Wednesday.
He thanked the Government and the board for appointing Dr Isaac Ake as the acting chief executive officer of the Hela Provincial Hospital.
The board consists of Peter Botten (chairman), Reverend Olene Yawai (deputy chairman and church representative), Health Secretary Pascoe Kase, George Tagobe and Rodney Ingersoll (representing the business sector), Doris Elape Anton (representing Hela district), Janet Koriama (representing women), Yawas Komiabu and Amos Max Libe (representing local communities).
Potape said law and order issue such as tribal fights hindered service delivery.
He said K1 million had been allocated to police and the law and order committee to deal with those involved in the nine tribal fights in Hela recently.
“The K1 million is the allowance for police and law and order committee members. They need to talk to those involved and carry out awareness on guns surrender,” he said.
Finance Minister and Tari Pori MP James Marape said: “Today turns a new chapter for Hela health. From this new structure, may better health facilities be delivered to Hela who have missed out on such essential government services for so long.”
Health Minister Michael Malabag said gone were the days when public service delivery “impeded by layers of public service bottlenecks”.