Telikom Foundation boosts services in Arawa

THE Telikom Foundation has enhanced vital services in Arawa, Central Bougainville.
Now equipped with advanced and innovative telecommunication tools, Arawa High School, Arawa health centre and police station are now determined to upgrade and extend their services to the community effectively.
Still bearing scars from the Bougainville conflict, Arawa High School is slowly rebuilding itself with new infrastructures and equipment to be on par with other schools in the country.
It will be upgraded to secondary school status by 2012.
The two modems (EVDOs) were given to the school when Telikom officers were in Arawa recently to set up a wireless network.
This was the first time it had ever received internet support and deputy headmaster Andrew Lasna said it was a timely donation as the school was preparing to have its first Grade 11s by 2012.
“The donations will greatly assist us in teaching, especially the upper secondary students come 2012, and also to engage us in internet-based transactions.
“Internet usage in teaching and learning is a must in this 21st century.”
Meanwhile, Arawa health centre and the police received two X’cess wireless phones each to beef up their operations.
Arawa district disease control officer Jacob Ien thanked the foundation for being helpful in ensuring that the sick are being attended to with enhanced communication modes and stressed that the donation of the phones signified the foundation’s conviction to add value to the lives of those who are in need.
Ien said communication with Buka General Hospital was a little difficult since Arawa health centre only had VHF radios.
It takes about four hours to travel more than 100km from Arawa to admit patients at Buka General Hospital, thus, placing effective communication is a must-have for the sick to be attended to quickly .