Sitting idle after 10 years

By EREBIRI ZURENUOC
A HEALTH post built in 2006 at Busama village in Salamaua, Morobe, through funding from the National Government is still incomplete after more than 10 years.
The health post with two staff houses and a tank could be served by three health workers. It can cater for Busuma village and other surrounding villages.
Busama community health worker Anbolyn Anjen said the only problems were electricity, water supply and medical supplies.
“The biggest problem is water supply. We cannot run a clinic without water,” she said.
“The health post was never used for more than 10 years now. We just clear the bushes outside and make sure the inside is clean.”
Anjen currently treats her patients from a small run down aid post in the village that was built in 1974.
“The aid post receives medical supplies from Salamaua health centre. We also get supplies annually from the AusAID,” she said.
“And supplies also come from PNG University of Technology, in 2017, when Dr Albert Schram was the then vice-chancellor.
“However, I cannot work in that run down building anymore. I need a bigger clinic to look after the pregnant women, and also patients who need to be monitored and taken care of for a few hours,” she said.
Anjen said nothing has been done to complete the health post to install water and electricity.
She said the village need to make use of the building before it starts to rot.
“I believe the amount spent to build this clinic was half a million kina. This is a big money. We need to use this clinic because money was spent,” she said.
“Responsible authorities must come back and help us install water supply and electricity so we can be able to use of the building.
“The size of the clinic is bigger and much better than the aid post, and it can be used to treat more people.”
Completing the health post is one of the projects the villagers set as their priority.
“A small grant to install water and electricity will help us make use of the building,” Anjen said.