Hopes new centre will cut deaths

 A NEW health centre in the Nomad area of Western will hopefully reduce the maternal mortality rate among local women, an official says.

“This project will go a long way to help reduce the high maternal mortality rate which is a big concern to us,” Kelly Kewa, a representative of the North Fly health services development programme said.

The estimated K750,000 project was put together by the Hoey family, well-known missionaries of the Evangelical church of PNG based at the Mogulu mission station with support from the local community, donors and other organisations. 

PNG Sustainable Development Program CEO David Sode, who was visiting Mogulu to open one of PNGSDP’s new telecommunications towers, saw the effort put in by the Hoey family. 

Sode said PNGSDP’s contribution of K100,000 to the project reflected the company’s continuing commitment to sustainable development in the province. 

“Most importantly, it reflects our support for human and social development through better health services.”

PNGSDP has already funded 14 health centres, six doctors’ houses and 22 nurses’ homes in the province.

PNGSDP had earlier assisted the community with K58,000 for a sawmill and K198,000 for a tractor and trailer.

The new health centre includes a patient ward, maternity ward, laboratory, pharmacy, ablution and toilet facilities plus solar power and rainwater harvesting facilities.