Leaders absent for health talkshow

 THE absence of political leaders and administrative staff from the Madang provincial government on Wednesday night’s talkshow panel hosted by the local NBC station disappointed participants.

The talkshow is a joint effort by NBC, Kundu 2 and Communication Development Initiative (CDI) aimed to bring leaders to the people to answer questions on the theme; ‘Yumi go wer? Are basic health services reaching the bulk of Madang?’

Invited but absent were Governor Jim Kas, provincial administrator Bernard Lange and provincial health director Marcus Kachau.

Kas was in Jayapura right after the parliament session ended the same day and issued a directive that the talk show be postponed.

Lange, in a separate directive, instructed Kachau not to attend as they were “currently preparing for the continued PAC hearing in Port Moresby on Monday and therefore did not want to be seen making contradictory statements.”

More than 50 people who attended said it was a shame that provincial leaders did not show up.

NBC confirmed giving them notices and was disappointed by their absence.

The only notable presence on the panel and who tried to answer questions about political funding sources and their functions was Sir Peter Barter, who elaborated on the nonexistence of workers, logistics and knowledge in rural areas.

On the panel was Sr Seba Banag from the Lutheran Health Service, Catholic Health Service Patrick Angrai, VSO representative Delma Wadau Fanudi and Dr Selby from Divine Word University.