Pumakos people get house, counselling centre

Story by ELIAS LARI
THE people of Pumakos area, in the Wapenamanda electorate, Enga, did not receive much health services for 20 years after their health centre and the Catholic station was burnt down following a tribal fight in the early 1991.
During the tribal fight, the Catholic church lost property worth millions of kina. That included schools, church building, health centre and other properties.
However, last Friday was the day of restoration for the Pumakos area when they witnessed the opening of a new health staff’s duplex house and a voluntary counselling and testing centre.
It was good news when the people received a big support from AusAID, the Churches Medical Council (CMC), National Catholic HIV/AIDS and the Catholic archdiocese of Wabag to erect the staff’s duplex building and the testing centre.
AusAID, through the National Catholic HIV/AIDS, gave K160,000 to build the testing and counselling centre, while the CMC and the Wabag archdiocese injected K195,000 to erect the staff’s duplex building.
The opening was witnessed by provincial and community leaders, the Yombu Catholic health centre staff, public servants, Bishop of Wabag Catholic archdiocese Arnold Orowae and Enga Catholic health secretary William Kameso.
Bishop Orowae urged the people to respect such public property because it would help them and their children.
He said services like health and education were very important to develop the lives of people.
He said if these projects were destroyed it was the people who would be affected.
Kameso thanked the sponsor for rebuilding and restoring the image of the Catholic mission.
Kameso said this was an important project that would help the people greatly.
He said people must start to show their respect and take ownership of what was given to them.
Kameso said health was a key area in helping improve the lives of people.
He said whatever service was provided should be well looked after because it would help the people.
Kameso thanked the people and guests for coming to witness the occasion.