Rigo inland community facing transportation problems

Community leaders of Inland Rigo, Central, yesterday told of the struggle they endure every day with virtually no Government services.
Transport is non-existent, with no roads or airstrips to this remote and mountainous part of Central.
Dorobisoro community health worker Kauka Sibide, teacher Kila Nimera and United Church minister Rev Nore Gereu told The National about the difficulties they faced.
At the next village of Laronu, councillor Wairi Mamana also spoke of the difficulties his people faced.
Sibide, who has been working for the last 27 years, said health supplies previously came from the Health Department but this was now coming through Australia.
“These come in by chopper or plane,” he said.
“It is very hard for our people to get medical services because there is no transport.
“Many times medical supplies do not arrive and I wait for months, even years. We have had no services since independence.”
Teacher Gilbert Seru said Government services were nil.
“The only support we get is from the Church Partnership Programme through the United Church,” he said.
“They help us fund plane charters to bring in school material.
“We have only two teachers, two local males and one female from the coast.”
The school has Grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 catering for 91 students altogether. After this, they go on to high school at either Kwikila, Laloki or Larowari.
“We need dormitories and classrooms,” Seru said.
“We also need regular stationery.”
Gereu said Christianity was very strong in the Rigo Inland areas.
“Our main problem here is no services, especially transportation,” he said.
“We urgently need Government services here, especially our airstrip, which is rundown.”