Man dies after 4-day walk

By MAJELEEN YANEI
A MAN from Southern Highlands’ Bosavi, who has been sick for over a month, died on Monday after walking for four days to reach Kutubu’s Pimaga Rural Hospital.
A local, Jackson Tepa, said due to the distance walked, Wonsi Wolu’s body swelled and he died a few hours after arrival at the hospital.
Wolu’s wife Susan, who trekked the journey with her husband, said Wolu had developed a serious health condition following a bout of malaria and required medical assistance and was referred to Pimaga hospital.
“His body was weak and he could not walk the distance. To be medevaced by the Mission Aviation Fellowship will cost us K600 which we couldn’t afford.”
Susan told The National through an interpreter: “With only K60 for our PMV fare from Kutubu to the hospital, we took the journey. We left Wabimisem village on Saturday morning, trekked the narrow bush track till nightfall and we slept in a bush hut.
“The next day, we walked for another 12 hours and arrived at Tagari River at 7pm.
“We slept, cooked the remaining bananas we had brought with us and the next day we took a canoe across the river to the Kutubu side which cost us K5. Wonsi felt a bit okay as the journey from home to Tagari is over lowland.
“From the river to Kutubu is mountainous, rocky with sharp limestone and took us four hours and I noticed my husband was very weak and his body started to swell.
“We slept in the bush and continued the next day, the swells on his body got worse.
“I asked to carry him but he said he was okay. We arrived at Waro at around 6pm and took a K30 PMV to the hospital and, a few hours later, he died.
“I walked back and arrived home yesterday.”
Tepa said the deceased was at Pimaga morgue and would be transported to Mt Hagen in neighbouring Western Highlands and arrange for a K16,400 charter flight to repriatrate him when funding was available from the Bosavi local level government.
Tepa said since last year, 10 people had died before and after reaching the hospital due to the distance.
“I hope the Waro to Bosavi road under construction is completed so people can access public transport or else more lives will be lost this year,” he said.
“Air being the only means of transport, the people appeal to Southern Highlands leaders to subsidise the airfares.”