Stranded patients flown home

 By ZACHERY PER

TEN sick people discharged from Kundiawa’s Sir Joseph Nombri Memorial Hospital and stranded for weeks were finally flown home to Karimui in Chimbu yesterday.

And they can thank the Chimbu provincial government and North Coast Aviation for making it possible for them to return to their rural villages.

The airline recently launched a new base in Kundiawa.

The provincial government’s motto of “Going rural, go long ples” became a reality for Wamugl Simon, Warmugl Aglua, Bigbel Rita, Mathew Gideon, Nakus John, David Mol, Pastor John Nime, Tony Kukai, Bob Nickla and Joseph Serah when they were flown to their loved ones back home in Karimui.

Chimbu Governor Noah Kool described the launching of North Coast Aviation’s base in Kundiawa as a “great day”.

He said medical equipment, medical drugs, coffee, garden produce, the people of Karimui and public servants would now fly in and out regularly.

Kool said economic activities in Chimbu would be boosted when money earned from Karimui was circulated in the province.

Chuave MP and Vice-Minister for Mining Wera Mori commended the airline for moving to Kundiawa.

Chimbu Administrator Joe Kunda said national airline Air Niugini would soon resume flights into the province, relieving the people of the need to drive to other provinces such as Mt Hagen, Morobe or Eastern Highlands to catch a flight.