K7m needed to contain health disaster

THE Morobe provincial executive council (MPEC) has made a submission to the National Government seeking financial assistance of more than K7 million to fund operations to contain the health disaster in the province.
The council has come up with K500,000 from the district development grant to assist in the fight against cholera, influenza and swine dysentery outbreaks in Tewai, Lae and Menyamya.
MPEC chairman and Governor Luther Wenge said according to the planning implications, the provincial task force had drawn up plans for providing medical supplies, logistics, communication and awareness.
It is believed that a director of the state of emergency (SoE) was approved last week to oversee the implementation of the contingency plan.