Locals able to seek help for abuse at new centre: Goi

PEOPLE from Imbonggu, Southern Highlands, will be able to seek help for abuse and other social problems at a new centre next month, Community Development and Religion Minister Wake Goi says.
He said Imbonggu was the first district to try the community development centre.
The concept is being tried out in a few other areas which were expected to become operational in the coming months.
The K5 million-plus centre built at Walume is set to have all functional offices of community development, Goi said.
He had said earlier that it would provide services for marriage certificates, birth certificates, NID, social protection and youth services.
Its core function is of support, management services, community protection and empowerment facilitation and a whole of government support facility to service families and communities targeting women, children, youths, the elderly, persons with disability and displaced communities remain.
It is understood the centre was co-funded by the ministry (50 per cent), the Soutthe Imbonggu.
“Operating in Port Moresby (referring to community development) is seen as operating in isolation by people in communities in the provinces as they cannot come to Port Moresby,” Goi said.
Imbonggu MP Pila Niningi said the centre was scheduled to be opened on Sept 17 by Prime Minister James Marape.
Niningi said he was happy with the establishment of the community development complex in the district and acknowledged the support of Marape and Goi.
He said the district community development centre contained 50 office spaces and 22-bedroom transit accommodation.
“The transit house will be used as a safe house in the long run,” he said.