Komokas take care of own

NEBILYER in the Western Highlands has earned notoriety as a tribal fighting zone.
Countless conflicts have taken place in the district over the years but only recently it has also seen some positive news. The people of Komoka in upper Nebilyer have banded together to help their own unfortunate ones in a gesture that shows their genuine care and concern.
The local community under the Komoka Association One (K-1), which is representative of 6,000-odd people, has taken upon itself the task of providing some form of social welfare for the disabled and AIDS orphans that would otherwise be destitute and struggle to survive on a daily basis. The approach is a practical one that meets the needs of these people wherein the association unites, much like the time-honoured American tradition of barn raising, to provide the labour and materials to set their less fortunate brethren a means to “get back on their feet”.
There are 36 people living with disabilities within the Komoka. Eight of these are children under the age of 12. The Tapalga community of the Komoka is also taking steps to look after its members that have been affected by HIV/AIDS.
Even though the association had programmes for people living with AIDS, this did not include orphans left parentless by the epidemic. Today, these children can provide for themselves through the association.
According to our information, the association, using funds sourced from donors, looks into the needs of this often-times neglected minority and helps them start projects to sustain their livelihoods. The assistance comes in the form of poultry projects, small crop seed (carrots and broccoli) and fertiliser distribution and garden-making aimed at empowering the disabled and orphans economically. Each person had 2,000 seedlings of broccoli sown in their plots with a similar number in carrot seeds to be planted. It is estimated that each person, after selling their produce, could make almost K5,000.
The association has also conducted disability training programmes to educate people living with a wide range of disabilities their rights, empowerment and equal participation in society.
The Komoka group has issued wheelchairs, walking implements and prosthetic limbs to people living with physical disabilities. But aside from the equipment and help in starting the farm produce gardens K-1’s goal is to give its disabled and underprivileged members a pathway to be self-sufficient and self-reliant, to a certain degree, and in the process enhancing their quality of life.
This is a commendable effort in light of the fact that in Papua New Guinea there is no government funding or formal programme of assistance for people living with disabilities or AIDS. Sadly, these people are left to fend for themselves and to rely on relatives and kin for their sustenance.
The Komoka’s version of a social benefit system is not an entirely new concept but it does say a lot for their community spirit. More importantly, it recognises that all people regardless of ability – or disability – have the unalienable right to participate and exist as full members of their community.
The marginalised and disenfranchised are welcomed and accepted, and accorded the proper respect and shown a measure of compassion that is growing all too rare in communities around the country. The association’s endeavors have not gone unnoticed with non-governmental organisation Mt Hagen Callan services for disabled people including K-1 in its awareness programmes since 2009.
With this local community showing a level of organisation, and cause to look after its own disadvantaged members, the Western Highlands provincial administration last year was moved to grant the association K100,000 to buy wheelchairs.
Association chairman Pinjiki Wak is optimistic about the future saying with the right attitude and strong community support they will be to continue to meet their goals in the care and guidance of the disabled and the people directly and indirectly affected by AIDS. 
We can only hope that more communities can take up similar initiatives, if they have not already done so, to protect the rights of all their members.
We can only hope and encourage communities such as the Komoka who are making a concerted effort to do away with the discrimination, stigmatisation, indifference and apathy that is becoming all too common in modern Papua New Guinea.